Bloodstar

I think it’s odd reading some of the blogs and comments out there over how much sour grapes appear to coming from the left. Hell, I’m libertarian, and while I can say from a purely philosophical stand point that the law is a ‘bad’ law, that doesn’t change the fact that from a pragmatic, governing the nation viewpoint, the law is fine.

I think Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Communists, Facists, whatever… have this amazing tendency to try to fit reality to their viewpoints, rather than fitting their viewpoints to reality.

And the reality is, we’re not going to accept our friends and family dying on us because of preexisting conditions, we’re not going to accept the idea that insurance companies will maximize profit at the expense of our friends and family dying.

I don’t think this bill is perfect, and I think there are some fundamental changes that can still be done to make it more effective, but that doesn’t change the fact that the prior system was incredibly broken and corrupted, and even the Libertarian in me just kinda shrugs and says to myself, ‘well, maybe if the corporations hadn’t been so fucking corrupted and profit hungry, they wouldn’t have fucked up to the point where government had to step in.”

Can someone explain to me why insurance, particularly health insurance is a for profit industry? That’s just asking for trouble (Profit versus life, health, and well being and all that). Trust me, making money is great and all that. but insurance is just that, the idea that I pay you now with the understanding that if something happens, you cover the loss. That works great with cars, houses, and other material possessions, however, it’s difficult to put specific price on keeping someone alive.

Tags: Health, Musings, Political, bloodstar by bloodstar
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I’ll be watching C-Span and flipping between that and Georgia Tech and Ohio State while biking on my ‘Mercedes of stationary bikes’. If the mood strikes me I’ll write more about the HCR bills. I would have gone golfing, but it’s a rainy wet day (and we *could* see some snowflakes mixing in with the rain tomorrow, but it’ll be nothing more than a, ‘hey, it was 75 yesterday, WTH?! moment) and so I figured I’d relax indoors

It’s days like today when I realize what a geek I am as I bounce off the walls in anticipation of the new Diablo II patch and ladder reset as well as the new season of Doctor Who in just a few weeks.

Update:
It looks like 3 votes are going to happen, the first one at 3pm is the rules vote. which says how everything is going to be run for the remainder of the debate this afternoon, after that, the vote on Senate amendments, and then the reconciliation vote to finalize things in the house. That’ll be this evening sometime.

Tags: Musings, Political, bloodstar by bloodstar
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It’s going to be rising fuel costs, which are going to sap the spending power of people both directly through gasoline and energy costs, and indirectly with rising costs of transportation and shipping:

Crude oil surged to a seven-week high after U.S. employment declined less than forecast in February, bolstering optimism that fuel demand will climb in the world’s biggest energy-consuming country.

…

Crude oil for April delivery rose $1.78, or 2.2 percent, to $81.99 a barrel at 9:58 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Right now, everytime the economy starts fire up, fuel prices will act like a wet blanket on any real sustained growth. I suspect the entire decade will be fitful until we get some alternative energies and alternative power supplies up and running. In particular, the system needs more excess capacity to better dampen these exaggerated swings in energy prices. Because every time fuel costs go up, alternative energies get a boost, which is then promptly stopped as soon as fuel prices go back down again. It’s hard to develop anything when there’s no consistent funding, and it’s even harder to bring alternatives online when a simple oil price drop or temporary oil glut can render your entire project economically unfeasible.

And I don’t believe there is any real market manipulation going on, nor suppression of any super secret technology. This is simply how markets work when a company is looking to ensure a profit. It’s also why I believe strongly that The Federal Government should be allowed to fund and finance research in fields and open any patents up for anyone willing to use them. If companies want to do their own research, that’s fine too, but for better or worse, The Government is better positioned to do a lot of research that initially isn’t going to make money, but will lead to the discoveries and designs that will. And yes I know there are programs out there that do just that, but perhaps it’s time to invest a bit more into the future technologies, and on the whole, that’s one of the areas where Government can outperform companies.

(and yes I know there are companies that perform tremendous research and development, but by in large, those companies are rare and only in specific fields)

Tags: Economics, Musings, Political, Science, bloodstar by bloodstar
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Before I start this, I’d like to say I’m a big fan of meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy.  Both have been a huge help to me.  I had to read this article twice to be sure I understood what it was saying and what points I disagree with.

I agree that it’s important to stay aware of your motivations and thought patterns.  For myself, when I stop keeping track of my thoughts and making an effort to keep them where I want them to be, I slowly coast into depression.

I don’t agree that we are DEFINED by those thoughts.  Thoughts, behaviors and emotions are easily changeable.  My “essence” is not defined by those things.  It’s a dangerous school of thought to say that someone who is operating from a selfish or manipulative place simply IS that way.   That may be where they are now, but it doesn’t mean that’s who they are.  Allowing them to believe that is their essence prevents them from having the capacity to change their patterns and become who they want to be.

If I write an article today and my motivation is purely selfish (which it often is, and I don’t see anything wrong with that) and it gets published—the job is done.  If I write it with a motivation of altruism and it gets published—the job is done.  What does it matter where my motivation comes from?  I don’t feel guilty that I do things for selfish reasons.  It doesn’t make me less of a person.

I’ve been fairly irritated with the whole spectacle about Scott Lee Cohen.  He’s a nominee for governor in Chicago, and he’s being forced to drop out due to some previous charges (which were later dropped) of domestic abuse.  Article here. Right, so he did something stupid and morally wrong once upon a time.  So what?  That doesn’t mean we need to label him a “wife beater” and throw rotten tomatoes at him.  People make mistakes.  We are not defined by our mistakes, and people shouldn’t be restricted from being successful in life just because they fucked up once.  I’m pretty sickened at the general public for being so intolerant and unforgiving.

Tags: Angelynna, Health, Musings, Political by Angelynna
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People say freedom isn’t free, and argue that you have to sacrifice liberties to be free. My response is that sometimes freedom means that the bad guys get a cheap shot in. Just because the bad guys don’t always play by our rules doesn’t mean we should just throw the towel in and quit trying to play with rules. That we have rules is what makes us better than the bad guys.

People also keep harping about how important it is to be safe, that we have to be protected. But without realizing it, they’re enabling all the other people who want people to be safe from other things. Things that person a doesn’t want the government meddling in. You can’t have it both ways, once a government is meddling and trying to keep you safe from a, then it’s going to follow that b and c and e, f, g will all be things that the government will need to protect us from. People always make the same mistake, they’ll create something and assume that it’ll never be abused or used for something beyond the purposes they’d created.

Just something to ponder, how do you create something with the power of the government behind it and keep it from becoming abused by the person who comes after you?

Tags: Musings, bloodstar by bloodstar
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I hear it all the time. I find it most aggravating when used in response to my inquisition of another person’s character.

“Do you think I’d like her?” “Yea she’s nice.”
“Is he a good guy?” “For sure – he’s really nice.”
“Is he qualified to fix the pressure monitor of my hyperbaric chamber?” “Well he’s really nice..”

Great, super, excellent—but not what I was asking! I’m sure Satan can be a nice guy, but does that mean I want him to fix my hyperbaric chamber? Probably not – it wasn’t cheap.

Lots of people are nice. In fact, I conjecture that if any one person meets another at the perfect moment in time, where the respective circumstances create emotional synergies, the moods of the day coincide, the stars align and George Bush falls down a flight of stairs face first on camera, that any one person is capable of thinking every other person on the planet is a “nice” person. But are they all nice people?

Let’s define “nice.” Webster’s has it “1. pleasing; agreeable; delightful.” Basically, it means “they didn’t offend me,” “they are funny” or perhaps even “they kissed my ass a lot.” But really, is this a good trait? In my view, all too often they simply adapted their personality and opinions so as to not be in conflict with your own. This means that they are very likely (or hopefully?) censoring themselves and not speaking their mind, which could mean that they are lying, withholding information, or just dodging subjects. What’s more, they could be agreeable simple because they are void of their own opinions due to a lack of interest or just sheer stupidity. I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly find a liar, someone who is void of depth, opinions, interest, or who is an idiot to be a the person whose friendship I find myself pursuing.

To me, a truly nice person is someone who is skilled in the art of delivering the truth in a nice package so that the recipient accepts it with open arms, without having been deceived about the other’s interest, motives or knowledge. This is something in which I fail miserably, usually daily, but I prefer to err on the side of being truthful than agreeable. Nice is telling someone that, yes, those pants do make you look fat; yes, you chew with your mouth open and it pisses me off; no, you’re not that good in bed, but when they tell you, you don’t mind and in fact embrace the new knowledge. Telling someone that they don’t look fat isn’t nice – it’s lying. Since when did lying become nice? (Note: If the person actually IS fat, I don’t know what to do then. I guess the pants don’t make them look fat because they are fat, so you could logically get away with saying “no” since it isn’t technically a lie.)

This is why when you qualify someone as worthy of knowing, or God forbid go so far as to qualify their character because they are “nice”, I am not satisfied; all I am hearing is a long list of potential motives or reasons for their agreeability, conscious or not. This is not to say that there aren’t people out there who do manage to be agreeable while being an intelligent, interested, and opinionated at the same time–a grand and rare balance to be achieved—but I am certain that people have varying definitions for the word, different standards for achieving what is truly “nice” and the due diligence involved in making such a conclusion about someone. Thus, I will always require more information, more background, and more face-to-face time with someone who is described as “nice.”

Tags: EclecticKlos, Musings by EclecticKlos
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It’s like 36 degrees and raining buckets. Doesn’t even have the dignity to drop a few degrees and give us some good ole fashion snow. Meanwhile, One of my favorite indie record stores changed location and suddenly started sucking. About the only news out there is all on Health care and I really just can’t find the motivation to blog on it. probably because I can’t even fake knowing enough to give at least a semi informed opinion. I know it’s the blogosphere and usually it’s ok to just make shit up. But I don’t even know enough to decide if it’s a good idea or not. Paul Krugman seems to think even the watered down bill is ok.

A message to progressives: By all means, hang Senator Joe Lieberman in effigy. Declare that you’re disappointed in and/or disgusted with President Obama. Demand a change in Senate rules that, combined with the Republican strategy of total obstructionism, are in the process of making America ungovernable. But meanwhile, pass the health care bill.

With all its flaws, the Senate health bill would be the biggest expansion of the social safety net since Medicare, greatly improving the lives of millions. Getting this bill would be much, much better than watching health care reform fail.

Meanwhile I’ve flipped into a Cyclothymia hypomanic episode this week. So I’m getting 4 – 5 hours of sleep a night, and I’ve only noticed a decrease in my attention span. (I usually crave 9 hours+ sleep) and that attention span decrease my be more related to the episode than a lack of sleep. What makes it frustrating is the mixed nature of the episodes. I don’t get a full classic hypomania terribly often. Fortunately, I also haven’t had any of my states flip over to a full blown mania or Depression in a very very long time.

I’m just waiting for the crash. Thank goodness I have a vacation next week. Though driving 1400 miles next week is going to be a drag if I end up in a full blown crash. So fingers crossed that I manage to return to a more normal state and not go straight to a dysthymic state.

Blah I say. Either way, hopefully some people will opt to write someone while I try to sort my mind out.

Tags: Health, Musings, Open Thread, bloodstar by bloodstar
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Domination and Submission… The topic of my current mindset.

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Tags: Musings, Random Posting, rant, vicious by Vicious
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A general catch up on things I’ve seen this week: Iran, Honduras are both in hurry up and wait mode, North Korea seems to be playing pat-a-cake with the junta in Burma, but that’s just kinda simmering on the back burner. The “Surge” in Afghanistan continues, and I’m not going to judge it one way or another, except to say that it’s about time we went after the people who were really responsible for 9/11.

Iraq is… well Iraq. Oil seems stuck around 64 dollars a barrel, even though there’s 1 million more barrels of oil produced each day than consumed. Speculation is keeping the price up, but eventually people are going to run out of places to store the oil and the bottom will fall out.

On a slightly more personal front, I’m down to about 195, from 203, so another 15 pounds to go, and maybe less weight will help with these wretched shinsplints. When your doctor says lose 30 pounds or die, you sorta take em seriously *laughs* I’m sure he was exaggerating just a little, but just from a running and biking viewpoint, it’s a good idea anyway, and I’m tired of being out of shape. But slow and steady and all that.

I think I could be pretty good at golf if I ever practiced more.

Tags: Musings, bloodstar by bloodstar
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• People like smiley face fireworkds
• Running down Amicalola and then back up is tough
• 50th Anniversaries should always be celebrated, even when they protest that they don’t want it.
• But don’t turn it into a huge over the top production unless they want it to be
• 36 holes of golf in one day is tiring
• Ants really like Blow Pops, and having ants inside a blow pop that you just put in your mouth, and feeling them come out of the blowpop is a … disconcerting sensation.
• Sometimes it’s nice to have no internet access for a few days

It’s nice to disconnect and decompress a bit. I just can’t make up my mind if I need a vacation from my vacation

Tags: Misc, Musings, bloodstar by bloodstar
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As I read and watch the Iranian coverage, I keep thinking about the efforts of the Junta to impose their will on the demonstrators. I’m reminded of someone balancing plates while riding a unicycle. With a rural country, things are much easier. However, Iran has a fairly high urban population which is quite cosmopolitan. Iran has tried to permit techonological advances and and an educated population with a system that is inherently repressive. In addition, you have a large segment of the population who already overthrew one dictatorship, so they remember what it took.

The Junta has decided that they’re not going to compromise. They have resorted to using pure thug tactics along with some propaganda on the state run television. They’re trying to use the propaganda to keep the general population from joining the demonstrations? The problem with using fear and violence is you have now created a hostile population – Particularly when the population wasn’t using violence against the regime, but instead demonstrating for a right to do something *within* the system. Now the Junta has forced the demonstrators into a corner: They system is obviously not working, and change within the system appears to be hopeless. So the protesters are going to split with what to do, but the level of violence is so high against the protesters that they will harden their positions and now work on bringing the entire system down.

Fear works for a little while, but fear also means that the population will actively work against you. That secret nuclear plant? consider it not so secret anymore. Any technological advancements will be slowed, or even go backwards, production goes down. Just in general the country will become a worse place to live. And people will become tired of being afraid, or the next guy wont be as willing to kill a few thousand people here and there. or drop acid from helicopters, or break down doors in the middle of the night. Once you use fear, you can’t stop using fear without having everything blow up on you.

Tags: Iran, Musings, World Events, bloodstar by bloodstar
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Can’t Sleep

Source: XKCD

Tags: Comic of the week, Economics, Financial, Image of the day or Week, Musings, bloodstar by bloodstar
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So Slumdog Millionaire won 8. Considering I hadn’t seen any of the contenders I suppose I should be happy for the winner, but really, this year really brings home the point that a lot of people have been making for years. The idea of a popular picture and the idea of an Oscar picture are not correlated in any way shape or form in recent years. In general I don’t think this is a particularly bad thing, particularly with the proliferation of movies in recent years. You don’t have the single movie theatre, you have the 12, 16, 24 theatre multiplexes that permit an incredible selection for people. (Though a case could be made that it’s like having hundreds of channels on cable. instead of 50 channels of crap, you now have 500 channels of crap) The selection may, as an overall total percentage, suck more than when you only had one theatre screen playing a movie, but with such a large number of screens playing different things, your odds are better.

Maybe we live in a prolific part of town, but we have a 12 screen first run about 2 miles from the house, another 12 screen dollar theatre about 3 miles away, and then a 24 screen and a 16 screen theatre about 8 miles away at the Mall. That’s a lot of screens!

I suspect that Oscar nominated movies more closely correlated to Financially successful movies until about 1980, then that correlation loosened with the proliferation of the Multiplex and the growth of screens available for movie watching. Of course that’d require some serious examination of the top movies versus Oscar nominations on a year to year basis to comfirm the Hypothesis. If I get a chance to do it, I’ll post the results. If anyone else wants to do it, I’d love to see what you turn up.

Tags: Misc, Musings, bloodstar by bloodstar
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Really, it’s a slow news day, Politically, the Stimulus bill is lurching along, and Gregg withdrew his nomination (which isn’t a huge shock, considering the Obama Administration was taking the Census duties away from his department). Sure, they’ve arrested people in Pakistan for the Mumbai (Bombay) massacre, but everything feels tactical; nothing jumps out as a significant event.

Meanwhile there’s more weakness in the housing market as prices fall 12.4% over the last 3 months of 2008, no major shock there.

Work has me writing macros in VB. In the meantime I’ve been doing a little more writing. Maybe I’ll actually finish one day, actually I have a plan to give myself incentive to actually write more. We’ll see if it gives me incentive or not

Tags: Economics, Musings, Political, bloodstar by bloodstar
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Over the last few months as I’ve written in this blog, I’ve noticed something that’s struck me time and time again: How frustrated I am with the news media focusing on the now aspect of the news as opposed to the news that actually makes a difference. Yes, I know news is entertainment and has to get people to watch or page views to sell. But I rankle at the idea that the things that really matter get lost in the shuffle.

People blast the TV news and the ‘MSM’ because of their liberal leanings or their conservative bias. Yes, there’s bias, yes, nothing is totally objective. I know I’m not totally objective, I have my leanings and so do other people who contribute to the blog from time to time. But that doesn’t mean that we as a group can’t take the time to step back and try to look at things with an open mind. All Republicans are Theocratic war mongers, All Democrats aren’t Socialist Cuban loving Hippies. Both parties can and do have good points to make. The same with the Libertarian party as well as some of the other Minor parties that exist. Discounting a voice simply because it’s not matching your own is foolish and short sighted.

That being said, The news media, Internet, print, TV and Radio, have gotten caught up in the idea of the ‘moment’ that somehow a news event is the single most important thing EVER. From, did he sneeze at the wrong time, to, was that phrase said wrong and who will take it the wrong way. Perhaps it’s not news specifically, but the Opinion and Analysis that is generated in an effort to fill 24/7 coverage on the radio, on the TV, and in the internet. Even the occasional pundit that tries to focus on the bigger story tends to get swamped by the ‘ooh, here’s a new tidbit, what does it mean bob?’ method of news.

Continued below the fold…
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Tags: Administrative, Musings, bloodstar by bloodstar
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