Its been a year since we met Zoe and she met us. She is growing into a little girl with a strong will, an impish sense of humor, and a good heart. She loves to get her purse and bracelet and sunglasses before she leaves the house. She loves to climb, to pet the dogs, and to throw tear-filled tantrums when she doesn't get her way. She loves her brother (and vice-versa) and her momma and her dada. Her doctor says what we already know: the is healthy, happy, and perfect. She has a beautiful smile, laugh, and voice when she sings. As of last week, she also has the last bit of paperwork needed to complete her adoption journey: a birth certificate.
We are all very lucky. Thanks for following this blog!
Signing off,
~Harvey.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Well, that didn't work.
I tried. I really did.
I bit my tongue over the racist nonsense. I said nothing about the party of "no." I blogged not a word about the war crimes. I let the teabaggers off without comment. I didn't say anything about death panels. I even said nothing about the insanity that is Sarah Palin.
Enough. The GOP is fucking crazy. They only appear slightly less crazy because the teabaggers are fucking crazy racist motherfuckers.
I spit at thee. You don't deserve to represent America. You don't deserve respect. I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire and you were between me and the urinal.
I'm back. And I've got a big stick. It used to be an axe, but I've grinded it down.
And you GOP fuckers have my attention and my ire.
This time, I'm not just blogging. Words will be used... but you won't see them coming.
I bit my tongue over the racist nonsense. I said nothing about the party of "no." I blogged not a word about the war crimes. I let the teabaggers off without comment. I didn't say anything about death panels. I even said nothing about the insanity that is Sarah Palin.
Enough. The GOP is fucking crazy. They only appear slightly less crazy because the teabaggers are fucking crazy racist motherfuckers.
I spit at thee. You don't deserve to represent America. You don't deserve respect. I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire and you were between me and the urinal.
I'm back. And I've got a big stick. It used to be an axe, but I've grinded it down.
And you GOP fuckers have my attention and my ire.
This time, I'm not just blogging. Words will be used... but you won't see them coming.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Change must come from within
Congrats to President-elect Obama and thanks to the many volunteers and voters than made this possible. As Obama said, remember that this is the beginning of a long road. And while many of us - myself included - are sorely tempted to treat those of us who voted for John McCain and the GOP as enemies and to throw this in their face, let us simply be the change that we have hoped for and find ways to convince our fellow Americans to be part of the solution. Lets treat them as we would have liked to have been treated.
So I’m putting it out there - I’m not going to gloat, make snide remarks, and support those that ignore concerns that I disagree with. I will seek to find common ground and pragmatic solutions for the benefit of all Americans.
I hope you will join me. I suspect that for me, it will be harder than quitting smoking is for most people. But change must come from within and I cannot expect it without some personal sacrifice. I want a better world for my children than I have created. I hope you want it too.
So I’m putting it out there - I’m not going to gloat, make snide remarks, and support those that ignore concerns that I disagree with. I will seek to find common ground and pragmatic solutions for the benefit of all Americans.
I hope you will join me. I suspect that for me, it will be harder than quitting smoking is for most people. But change must come from within and I cannot expect it without some personal sacrifice. I want a better world for my children than I have created. I hope you want it too.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Is Sarah Palin A Woman Of Destiny? Or Token Female prop?
Read the post here: http://yourmindbodyandsoul123.com/is-sarah-palin-a-woman-of-destiny
Gag.
This woman has done nothing of note other than be the cleanest pig in the pig sty. She is embroiled in a corruption scandal that suddenly is being stonewalled, lies about her well-documented history on being pro-earmarks, doesn’t believe in science, things God is in charge of sending US soldiers off to die for the lies of our leaders, and thinks we can drill our way out of our oil addition. Sure, she looks great up there running amidst corrupt war criminals who have abused thier power , the architects of our current republican economy, and an old guy who has sold out ever ideal that he ran on in 2000. Standing next to this crowd, Nixon would look good.
Has Palin any real credentials of note, I’d cheer her on. But having an XY chromazone isn’t enough. We’ve seen what unproven, unskilled, idealogical zealots like Micheal “Brownie” Brown, Alberto Gonzolas, Harriet Meyers, and Monica Goodling have wrought on America.
Electing an unqualified woman would only be a short term success for women - until McCain keels over and her inexperience puts all Americans in even more danger. We’ve seen the gross incompetence of the Bush administration, and Bush was more qualified than Palin. This isn’t a job for amateurs, not matter how much lies and spin are shoveled to a crowd of mindless delegates to put lipstick on this particular political pig.
(Note: Pig is just a metaphor - it is not intended as a personal slander)
If she had any sense, she would have realized just how unqualified she is and not accepted the job offer.
Finally, if you are going to tell the rest of us how to live our lives, your personal choices and failures are a legitimate part of the discourse. While I do not think that the media should ask her daughter or future son in law a single question or post pictures of them, the line of inquiry is a legitimate one. When a candidate opens this values door, their judgment and believes are the issue. Personally, I could care less. But you don’t get to claim to be morally superior and then claim that your moral failures aren’t part of the debate.
And quit whining about sexism. Obama has to deal with racism. McCain has to deal with ageism. Deal with it. Don’t whine about it like Hillary did. Obama didn’t win the nomination without a lot of help from Hillary’s campaign whining about the media. And I don’t think that Palin is whining - its McCain’s campaign staff. But if she doesn’t speak up, she implicitly approves of the message and proves that she is nothing more than a token fundementalist and a token woman, not a woman candidate and certainly not presidential material.
Gag.
This woman has done nothing of note other than be the cleanest pig in the pig sty. She is embroiled in a corruption scandal that suddenly is being stonewalled, lies about her well-documented history on being pro-earmarks, doesn’t believe in science, things God is in charge of sending US soldiers off to die for the lies of our leaders, and thinks we can drill our way out of our oil addition. Sure, she looks great up there running amidst corrupt war criminals who have abused thier power , the architects of our current republican economy, and an old guy who has sold out ever ideal that he ran on in 2000. Standing next to this crowd, Nixon would look good.
Has Palin any real credentials of note, I’d cheer her on. But having an XY chromazone isn’t enough. We’ve seen what unproven, unskilled, idealogical zealots like Micheal “Brownie” Brown, Alberto Gonzolas, Harriet Meyers, and Monica Goodling have wrought on America.
Electing an unqualified woman would only be a short term success for women - until McCain keels over and her inexperience puts all Americans in even more danger. We’ve seen the gross incompetence of the Bush administration, and Bush was more qualified than Palin. This isn’t a job for amateurs, not matter how much lies and spin are shoveled to a crowd of mindless delegates to put lipstick on this particular political pig.
(Note: Pig is just a metaphor - it is not intended as a personal slander)
If she had any sense, she would have realized just how unqualified she is and not accepted the job offer.
Finally, if you are going to tell the rest of us how to live our lives, your personal choices and failures are a legitimate part of the discourse. While I do not think that the media should ask her daughter or future son in law a single question or post pictures of them, the line of inquiry is a legitimate one. When a candidate opens this values door, their judgment and believes are the issue. Personally, I could care less. But you don’t get to claim to be morally superior and then claim that your moral failures aren’t part of the debate.
And quit whining about sexism. Obama has to deal with racism. McCain has to deal with ageism. Deal with it. Don’t whine about it like Hillary did. Obama didn’t win the nomination without a lot of help from Hillary’s campaign whining about the media. And I don’t think that Palin is whining - its McCain’s campaign staff. But if she doesn’t speak up, she implicitly approves of the message and proves that she is nothing more than a token fundementalist and a token woman, not a woman candidate and certainly not presidential material.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Yeah, what Thomas Friedman said
On top of it all, our bank crisis is not over. Two weeks ago, Goldman Sachs analysts said that U.S. banks may need another $65 billion to cover more write-downs of bad mortgage-related instruments and potential new losses if consumer loans start to buckle. Since President Bush came to office, our national savings have gone from 6 percent of gross domestic product to 1 percent, and consumer debt has climbed from $8 trillion to $14 trillion.
-- Thomas Friedman http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/opinion/29friedman.html?em&ex=1214884800&en=e0277bc788f8f54b&ei=5087%0A
If the old saying — that “as General Motors goes, so goes America” — is true, then folks, we’re in a lot of trouble. General Motors’s stock-market value now stands at just $6.47 billion, compared with Toyota’s $162.6 billion. On top of it, G.M. shares sank to a 34-year low last week.
That’s us. We’re at a 34-year low. And digging out of this hole is what the next election has to be about and is going to be about — even if it is interrupted by a terrorist attack or an outbreak of war or peace in Iraq. We need nation-building at home, and we cannot wait another year to get started. Vote for the candidate who you think will do that best. Nothing else matters.
-- Thomas Friedman http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/opinion/29friedman.html?em&ex=1214884800&en=e0277bc788f8f54b&ei=5087%0A
If the old saying — that “as General Motors goes, so goes America” — is true, then folks, we’re in a lot of trouble. General Motors’s stock-market value now stands at just $6.47 billion, compared with Toyota’s $162.6 billion. On top of it, G.M. shares sank to a 34-year low last week.
That’s us. We’re at a 34-year low. And digging out of this hole is what the next election has to be about and is going to be about — even if it is interrupted by a terrorist attack or an outbreak of war or peace in Iraq. We need nation-building at home, and we cannot wait another year to get started. Vote for the candidate who you think will do that best. Nothing else matters.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Documents confirm U.S. hid detainees from Red Cross
What would you say if an enemy nation did this to our soldiers? Or rather, now that President Bush has opened this Pandora’s box, what will you say when this happens and the countries around the world say, sure its wrong, but the US did it.
Documents confirm U.S. hid detainees from Red Cross
Moral authority. Reputation. Leadership.
Gone.
Our brave soldiers now and in the future, in much greater danger.
Never has our country’s soul been sold so cheap by those so low.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Impeach, or the terrorists win
Written in response to South Florida Sun-Sentinel's editorial on June 12th: Impeachment not worth another minute of anybody's time
Is there anything more important than holding our leaders accountable for their actions?
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel argues in its June 12 editorial that the fruitless wars this President lied us into, the failing economy that this President has spent us into, that gas prices – a by-product of the disastrous war, falling dollar, and lack of a real energy policy – are more important than impeachment.
By this logic, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel argues that attacking Iraq was not necessary. Saddam was in his 70s and wouldn’t have been in power much longer. Holding war crime trials in Nuremburg was pointless – the war was over. The embargo on Castro’s regime in Cuba should be tossed aside as well and we shouldn’t bother to try him for his crimes should we have the opportunity as he is now out of office.
And the South Florida Sun-Sentinel might have been right if this was simply incompetence – his and ours – for we the people elected him, at least the second time. And in a democracy, we would be responsible. But this has been anything but a democracy and he has been anything but a President. For Bush and his administration has lied to the American public, ignored the rule of law, and subverted and perhaps perverted the justice system in its ideological quest for power. He has championed torture, spied on Americans, and lied to lead us into war, and that is only 3 of the impeachable offenses that he should be held accountable for.
And thus the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is wrong. In its short-sighted view, it ignores what is obvious to most citizens of this republic, that if we do not hold these men accountable for their actions against us and their oaths of office, we cheapen the US Constitution and that which makes this nation great. By not acting and recognizing the failures and holding those accountable for them, we weaken the republic. By not impeaching this President and his administration, and thus holding them accountable on the record, we hand the terrorists a victory beyond their dreams – the very real damage to our nation that will last far longer than the smoke from 9/11, the ill-deserved freedom of Bin Laden, and the spectre of violence in Iraq. We lose the rule of law that our founding fathers clearly held so dear. We lose our reputation, our dignity, our moral authority. We lose the core of our uniquely American values – now and for generations to come.
By not impeaching this President, the terrorists win.
Is there anything more important than holding our leaders accountable for their actions?
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel argues in its June 12 editorial that the fruitless wars this President lied us into, the failing economy that this President has spent us into, that gas prices – a by-product of the disastrous war, falling dollar, and lack of a real energy policy – are more important than impeachment.
By this logic, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel argues that attacking Iraq was not necessary. Saddam was in his 70s and wouldn’t have been in power much longer. Holding war crime trials in Nuremburg was pointless – the war was over. The embargo on Castro’s regime in Cuba should be tossed aside as well and we shouldn’t bother to try him for his crimes should we have the opportunity as he is now out of office.
And the South Florida Sun-Sentinel might have been right if this was simply incompetence – his and ours – for we the people elected him, at least the second time. And in a democracy, we would be responsible. But this has been anything but a democracy and he has been anything but a President. For Bush and his administration has lied to the American public, ignored the rule of law, and subverted and perhaps perverted the justice system in its ideological quest for power. He has championed torture, spied on Americans, and lied to lead us into war, and that is only 3 of the impeachable offenses that he should be held accountable for.
And thus the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is wrong. In its short-sighted view, it ignores what is obvious to most citizens of this republic, that if we do not hold these men accountable for their actions against us and their oaths of office, we cheapen the US Constitution and that which makes this nation great. By not acting and recognizing the failures and holding those accountable for them, we weaken the republic. By not impeaching this President and his administration, and thus holding them accountable on the record, we hand the terrorists a victory beyond their dreams – the very real damage to our nation that will last far longer than the smoke from 9/11, the ill-deserved freedom of Bin Laden, and the spectre of violence in Iraq. We lose the rule of law that our founding fathers clearly held so dear. We lose our reputation, our dignity, our moral authority. We lose the core of our uniquely American values – now and for generations to come.
By not impeaching this President, the terrorists win.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
When you see it coming but can't get out of the way
America is about to feel in a very real way the effects of years of governmental mismanagement. I fear the next depression is upon us as the shock of war debt, government corruption, bad economic policies that result in inflation and falling dollar, bad corporate stewardship, the lack of any real energy policy and R&D, climate change, and rising foreign economies converge. My tea leaves say that we are one big disaster away from going over the edge.
What I can't figure out is what to do about it.
Sure, if I were young and healthy, I'd probably find some out of the way place and stock up to try to ride it out. But I'm old and chained to the pharmaceutical industry for the rest of my life. Any collapse of manufacturing, the supply chain, and my ability to pay is going to result in a very short, painful life for me.
And it doesn't matter that I've been a good citizen, a hard worker, financially conservative, and made all the "smart" choices. I'm going over the edge with the idiots that dug us into the mess. The only difference is that they will have shinier cars when it all goes to hell in a handbag.
Anyone got any suggestions?
What I can't figure out is what to do about it.
Sure, if I were young and healthy, I'd probably find some out of the way place and stock up to try to ride it out. But I'm old and chained to the pharmaceutical industry for the rest of my life. Any collapse of manufacturing, the supply chain, and my ability to pay is going to result in a very short, painful life for me.
And it doesn't matter that I've been a good citizen, a hard worker, financially conservative, and made all the "smart" choices. I'm going over the edge with the idiots that dug us into the mess. The only difference is that they will have shinier cars when it all goes to hell in a handbag.
Anyone got any suggestions?
Required reading for Business leaders and students
Some business books are just so good that you have to have it on the shelf.
Stall Points: Most Companies Stop Growing--Yours Doesn't Have To by Matthew S. Olson and Derek van Bever (Hardcover - April 28, 2008)Buy new: $27.50 $18.15
And be sure to check out thier blog: http://stallpoints.executiveboard.com/resources.html
Amazing stuff. This isn't the same old strategy process book. This is hard core research results and practical, data driven, actionable recommendations.
If only all business books were this good. And business leaders read and followed them. Maybe worker would suffer less for the bad decisions that their bosses inflict on them.
If there is one thing I want my business students to walk away thinking, the that the decisions they will make will impact peoples lives. People who come to work everyday and put in a fair day's work, only to lose their jobs because their bosses won't read books like this and put the lessons into practice.
Ask yourself - why can't Toyota keep their cars in stock and why can't GM give theirs away? The answer isn't the workers. Why they haven't burnt their HQ to the ground during a board meeting is beyond me.
And be sure to check out thier blog: http://stallpoints.executiveboard.com/resources.html
Amazing stuff. This isn't the same old strategy process book. This is hard core research results and practical, data driven, actionable recommendations.
If only all business books were this good. And business leaders read and followed them. Maybe worker would suffer less for the bad decisions that their bosses inflict on them.
If there is one thing I want my business students to walk away thinking, the that the decisions they will make will impact peoples lives. People who come to work everyday and put in a fair day's work, only to lose their jobs because their bosses won't read books like this and put the lessons into practice.
Ask yourself - why can't Toyota keep their cars in stock and why can't GM give theirs away? The answer isn't the workers. Why they haven't burnt their HQ to the ground during a board meeting is beyond me.
My favorite artist: Sharleen Spiteri
I'm not sure if we are ever going to see another album from Texas, but thier lead singer, Sharleen Spiteri, is coming out with a New album on July 15th called "Melody." Here is the video from the first song release:
Monday, June 2, 2008
Live or die - just quit whining at me!
I've managed a lot of people of the years and few have ever told me that they had enough money or thought that were much worse at their job than everyone thought. Everyone thinks they are worth more money, a promotion, a better spouse, happier kids, etc.
Really? They why are so stupid that you keep working here, going home to your spouse, living the same boring life that you are whining about?
I'm not the bubbly, happy type (as if you haven't figured that out by now), but I'm happy with my job and my life. I'm worth a hell of a lot more than I'm paid, but I've worked for myself and the boss was a jerk. I worked 90 hour weeks and couldn't keep up with the work but didn't want to hire people. A stupid decision in retrospect, but I was young and used to working hard. I'm not whining about how unfair and miserable I am - I'm trying to find new ways to add value by fixing problems for my employer. And I've been trying to figure out how to be a better husband and father, although I haven't made much progress.
We all get the life we work for. People don't go around making bad decisions intentionally, although the do seem to sabotage themselves quite a bit. We all pick the best option at the moment and that leads you to your present situation.
Deal with it. Change your life or quit complaining about it - I'm tired of hearing about your problems.
Really? They why are so stupid that you keep working here, going home to your spouse, living the same boring life that you are whining about?
I'm not the bubbly, happy type (as if you haven't figured that out by now), but I'm happy with my job and my life. I'm worth a hell of a lot more than I'm paid, but I've worked for myself and the boss was a jerk. I worked 90 hour weeks and couldn't keep up with the work but didn't want to hire people. A stupid decision in retrospect, but I was young and used to working hard. I'm not whining about how unfair and miserable I am - I'm trying to find new ways to add value by fixing problems for my employer. And I've been trying to figure out how to be a better husband and father, although I haven't made much progress.
We all get the life we work for. People don't go around making bad decisions intentionally, although the do seem to sabotage themselves quite a bit. We all pick the best option at the moment and that leads you to your present situation.
Deal with it. Change your life or quit complaining about it - I'm tired of hearing about your problems.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Suffer not the IDiots
People who do not believe in evolution and are advancing this fiction of "Intelligent Design" - or as I prefer to call them, IDiots, are only interested in proving that science proves that their god is right. This is all about teaching their twisted view of religion in public schools.
This isn't about God, or Truth, or Science. The faithful will believe in their god and their religion no matter what science says. The scientists know that science doesn't explain the why, only the how, and understand that ID is based on a twisted and ignorant view of scientific principles.The tactic of the IDiots is to convince people that science is scared and threatened by this alternate theory. The IDiots are playing the persecution card to try to elevate their crackpot ideas to be on par with scientific principles.
And when you point out that every one of their principles are wrong, they whine about how you just don't get it.They have ways to pour this nonsense into unsuspecting brains by homeschooling, religious schools, and madrassas. This isn't about getting their view out, this is about peeing on your leg. They are out to establish dominance. Just as all of their views are.
They don't like stem cell research and would rather you die for their believes than label the fruits of the research and allow them to choose to die and suffer for their beliefs. They don't like abortion - so rather than not have one, they want to force you not to have one. And so on and so forth.
Jesus didn't say "go forth and legislate." He said to lead by example. This isn't the example He lived.
This is nothing more than a political cult that has lied and manipulated people into sending them money and doing stupid things to demonstrate their power over you and your children.
And we have seen what happens when these people get into power in the Bush administration. The censor scientific research, cancel funding for research, and outright lie (see effectiveness of abstinence teaching) to advance their IDology (or would that be IDolatry?). This is how the Dark Ages got started. And all it takes for another Facist state is for good people to not speak up.
I'm not suggesting that anyone take any action beyond voting or political action to keep the IDiots off school boards so that are children doing have this stupidity inflicted upon them as valid science. And to speak out publicly to defend their right to believe any stupid idea they want in their home and church as is their right, but not to force it upon science and our kids.
Eventually this stupidity will end. The problem with evolution is that it doesn't work fast enough.
See also: https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=22401144&postID=1413646686223327586&page=1
This isn't about God, or Truth, or Science. The faithful will believe in their god and their religion no matter what science says. The scientists know that science doesn't explain the why, only the how, and understand that ID is based on a twisted and ignorant view of scientific principles.The tactic of the IDiots is to convince people that science is scared and threatened by this alternate theory. The IDiots are playing the persecution card to try to elevate their crackpot ideas to be on par with scientific principles.
And when you point out that every one of their principles are wrong, they whine about how you just don't get it.They have ways to pour this nonsense into unsuspecting brains by homeschooling, religious schools, and madrassas. This isn't about getting their view out, this is about peeing on your leg. They are out to establish dominance. Just as all of their views are.
They don't like stem cell research and would rather you die for their believes than label the fruits of the research and allow them to choose to die and suffer for their beliefs. They don't like abortion - so rather than not have one, they want to force you not to have one. And so on and so forth.
Jesus didn't say "go forth and legislate." He said to lead by example. This isn't the example He lived.
This is nothing more than a political cult that has lied and manipulated people into sending them money and doing stupid things to demonstrate their power over you and your children.
And we have seen what happens when these people get into power in the Bush administration. The censor scientific research, cancel funding for research, and outright lie (see effectiveness of abstinence teaching) to advance their IDology (or would that be IDolatry?). This is how the Dark Ages got started. And all it takes for another Facist state is for good people to not speak up.
I'm not suggesting that anyone take any action beyond voting or political action to keep the IDiots off school boards so that are children doing have this stupidity inflicted upon them as valid science. And to speak out publicly to defend their right to believe any stupid idea they want in their home and church as is their right, but not to force it upon science and our kids.
Eventually this stupidity will end. The problem with evolution is that it doesn't work fast enough.
See also: https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=22401144&postID=1413646686223327586&page=1
Monday, April 28, 2008
Medical Economics
A bunch of people with health care don't think the government should intervene to fix the health care system. Most of these people work for insurance companies, HMOs, lobbyists, and lack both a soul and and real grasp of economics.
How much is your life worth to you? Enough to spend your money? Enough to spend mine? Everyone's life - and that of a loved one - has infinite value. Everyone thinks that they should be entitled to the best medical care and screw the cost.
And the current system tries to make a buck off every procedure. The problem is, that about 1/2 the cost of health care DOESN:T DELIVER ANY CARE AT ALL. Its administrative overhead, profit, accounting, medical records, insurance billing, waste, or outright fraud. And some of the rest - much less than you are led to believe, is spent charging you more to care for those who cant afford it, because we are human and there are laws that try to prevent allowing hospitals from allowing people to die on their doorstep from preventable causes.
The problem with this approach is that that a person's real value is measured in most part by his or her value to society. Wealth should have some privileges. But we shouldn't let people get sick because that comes back to haunt us like the plague. Exactly like the plague.
Here's a modest proposal:
The government pays for all care for kids until age 18 or age 21 if they are in college. After than, the government pays for basic care and drugs. Basic, cheap stuff - no frills, no transplants, nothing experimental. Old fashioned basic care. You walk in, get treated, and walk out. No paperwork, maybe a small copay just to discourage idiots from abusing the system and to leave a credit card trail to help the accountants out in figuring out reimbursement. Oh, and if you catch someone at fraud, its a mandatory year of public service for each count.
If you work, you can buy insurance that provides better coverage and madatorly pays you between jobs for up to 2 years - much like cobra. You can get additional coverage if you can afford it - let the free market take care of what it costs an what works. You can buy the coverage you think you deserve and can afford.
This cuts the waste out of the biggest part of the system and matches a persons value to what he or she contributes. Wealth should have its privilege.
Just a thought.
How much is your life worth to you? Enough to spend your money? Enough to spend mine? Everyone's life - and that of a loved one - has infinite value. Everyone thinks that they should be entitled to the best medical care and screw the cost.
And the current system tries to make a buck off every procedure. The problem is, that about 1/2 the cost of health care DOESN:T DELIVER ANY CARE AT ALL. Its administrative overhead, profit, accounting, medical records, insurance billing, waste, or outright fraud. And some of the rest - much less than you are led to believe, is spent charging you more to care for those who cant afford it, because we are human and there are laws that try to prevent allowing hospitals from allowing people to die on their doorstep from preventable causes.
The problem with this approach is that that a person's real value is measured in most part by his or her value to society. Wealth should have some privileges. But we shouldn't let people get sick because that comes back to haunt us like the plague. Exactly like the plague.
Here's a modest proposal:
The government pays for all care for kids until age 18 or age 21 if they are in college. After than, the government pays for basic care and drugs. Basic, cheap stuff - no frills, no transplants, nothing experimental. Old fashioned basic care. You walk in, get treated, and walk out. No paperwork, maybe a small copay just to discourage idiots from abusing the system and to leave a credit card trail to help the accountants out in figuring out reimbursement. Oh, and if you catch someone at fraud, its a mandatory year of public service for each count.
If you work, you can buy insurance that provides better coverage and madatorly pays you between jobs for up to 2 years - much like cobra. You can get additional coverage if you can afford it - let the free market take care of what it costs an what works. You can buy the coverage you think you deserve and can afford.
This cuts the waste out of the biggest part of the system and matches a persons value to what he or she contributes. Wealth should have its privilege.
Just a thought.
Yesterday's hippies are today's hypocrites
Talkin' 'bout my generation. What a bunch of hypocrites!
The free love group is now advocating abstinance - which doesn't work.
The peacenicks now support the war
The "don't trust anyone over 30" crowd is buying viagra and cosmetic surgery to look young
The "no more taxes crowd" is running up that national debt and breaking the bank
The "don't need no money, just need love" crowd is going to suck social security dry
This generation mantra is "Screw the kids, we got ours"
And when the time comes, that slack jawed idiot you didn't invest in is going to make euthinasia legal and stand on your oxygen hose and happily watch you greedy bastards die.
And you've earned it.
The free love group is now advocating abstinance - which doesn't work.
The peacenicks now support the war
The "don't trust anyone over 30" crowd is buying viagra and cosmetic surgery to look young
The "no more taxes crowd" is running up that national debt and breaking the bank
The "don't need no money, just need love" crowd is going to suck social security dry
This generation mantra is "Screw the kids, we got ours"
And when the time comes, that slack jawed idiot you didn't invest in is going to make euthinasia legal and stand on your oxygen hose and happily watch you greedy bastards die.
And you've earned it.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Law of unintended consequences revisited
Congress, with its collective lips firmly around the shaft of the farm lobby, voted even more subsidies to the American Farmer, aka ConAgra, ADM, and the 3 other conglomerates that own every farm in America. They all start growing corn and selling to ethanol producers so they can collect their subsidies. This raises the price of both food and gas (since ethanol is one of the worst biofuels out there, with the least energy content and most overhead since it requires special processing and separate transportation), making food and everything else cost more. And if that isn't enough...
Poor countries are selling off food crops since prices have increased, so people are both poorer and hungrier since they can't afford the limited remaining food. Hungry, starving people tend to be unhappy, so they do whatever they can to eat. Guess who has food and is recruiting: Terrorists.
Yes, Congress is creating even more terrorist by pretending to be green. Ethanol is creating terrorists by using up food to create a bad biofuel. Oh, and MIT released a study showing that the increased farming is generating much more CO2 than the oil from all the farming, so global warming is actually increasing.
We are so phucked.
Poor countries are selling off food crops since prices have increased, so people are both poorer and hungrier since they can't afford the limited remaining food. Hungry, starving people tend to be unhappy, so they do whatever they can to eat. Guess who has food and is recruiting: Terrorists.
Yes, Congress is creating even more terrorist by pretending to be green. Ethanol is creating terrorists by using up food to create a bad biofuel. Oh, and MIT released a study showing that the increased farming is generating much more CO2 than the oil from all the farming, so global warming is actually increasing.
We are so phucked.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Ubuntu 8.04 - Maybe its time..
I've just loaded an old machine up with the latest (beta) version of Ubuntu Linux and its not bad. Still a bit too geekish, but past the awkward teen period that made me dump it the last few tries.
If Ubuntu or any other Linux wants to own the desktop - and its ripe for the taking - then they need to focus the next release on useability and recoverabilty. While the forums have many people willing to answer your every problem, the OS still relies far to much on the user community for support.
Make the system auto-repair itself and never, ever fail to the point of having to understand the intricacies of Linux to resolve the problem and you will own the desktop. Make it like MAC's OS X so that users can load and go and not have to think about the OS and you will win.
But its probably too late for that. Linux is no longer an OS - its a religion. And Geeks don't really want to win the desktop, they want to show everyone why they need to be a geek or need geeks to live.
If Ubuntu or any other Linux wants to own the desktop - and its ripe for the taking - then they need to focus the next release on useability and recoverabilty. While the forums have many people willing to answer your every problem, the OS still relies far to much on the user community for support.
Make the system auto-repair itself and never, ever fail to the point of having to understand the intricacies of Linux to resolve the problem and you will own the desktop. Make it like MAC's OS X so that users can load and go and not have to think about the OS and you will win.
But its probably too late for that. Linux is no longer an OS - its a religion. And Geeks don't really want to win the desktop, they want to show everyone why they need to be a geek or need geeks to live.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Charlton Heston Dead At 83
Do you think I'll need a crowbar to pry the gun from his cool dead hands now?
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Time by Pink Floyd from Dark Side of the Moon
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine
Staying home to watch the rain
And you are young and life is long
And there is time to kill today
And then one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun
And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter
Never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to nought
Or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone
The song is over
Thought I'd something more to say
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine
Staying home to watch the rain
And you are young and life is long
And there is time to kill today
And then one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun
And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter
Never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to nought
Or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone
The song is over
Thought I'd something more to say
3rd graders form plan to kill teacher - the good news
No, I'm not going to blame this on bush's leadership in the field of torture, or the media, or the fact that it happened in Florida, a place that is giving California a run for leader in the crazy things category. I'm not going to worry about the blame - the idiot talking heads have that angle well covered.
I'm impressed by this.
Three 3rd graders formed a detailed, actionable plan, complete with roles, responsibilities, and risk management contingencies. And the leader was a girl, getting another girl and a boy to join in.
I've worked with mid-level managers who lack the planning skills that these kids demonstrated. If they can rehab the little psychopaths into business leaders, they have a future in investment banking.
If not, put them in charge of the war. At least they will have a plan.
I'm impressed by this.
Three 3rd graders formed a detailed, actionable plan, complete with roles, responsibilities, and risk management contingencies. And the leader was a girl, getting another girl and a boy to join in.
I've worked with mid-level managers who lack the planning skills that these kids demonstrated. If they can rehab the little psychopaths into business leaders, they have a future in investment banking.
If not, put them in charge of the war. At least they will have a plan.
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