slipwind
life sliding through the air
Regarding Health Care
Jul 24th
Will Rogers famously said, “It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that ain’t so.”[1] So it is with the health care debate in this country. Quite a few “facts” offered to the public as truth are simply wrong and often intentionally misleading. It seems clear that no truly productive solution will emerge when these false facts represent our common starting point. So, this essay takes on the modest task of simply disabusing its readers of some untrue notions about health care.
The quote above is taken from an essay by Clifford Asness (linked above). I don’t really have anything to add to the debate, but I thought this essay pointed out a lot of concerns which I have, and I think people should be thinking about when considering such a massive and important proposal to change the way our health care system works.
The author is a little snarky at times and obviously is coming from a more conservative/libertarian perspective (he throws around the term “socialist” perhaps a bit too much), but overlooking that I think he has a lot of valid points.
If anyone has some opposing responses that might refute some of this please feel free to respond!
Art. Finally. I think.
Jul 12th
I finally purchased a piece of art for my 30th birthday present (which was over a year ago I know). It’s a watercolor from a local artist that I kinda sorta like. I’m not sure spending a lot of money on something I only “kinda sorta” like is a good idea, so we’ll see if I end up keeping it after I’ve had it on my wall for a couple days.
The photo is a little glary I know, but you’ll get the idea anyway. Comments are welcome!
Beer and Bumper Stickers
Jul 12th
Just got back from Ben’s bachelor party at the cabin. I think there ends up being about 16 guys around at various times during the couple days we were there. Played some golf, tooled around on Half Moon, ate some good food, checked out the Balsam Lake night life (Unfortunately the VFW was closed!), and drank lots and lots and lots of beer.
It was a really good time.
Also, Luke had the best bumper stickers I have ever seen!
Mobily
Jul 6th
Well I am trying something new. Posting a blog entry from my phone. Theoretically this might encourage me to write more… we shall see!
Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead
Apr 25th
When I can no more stir my soul to move,
And life is but the ashes of a fire;
When I can but remember that my heart
Once used to live and love, long and aspire–
Oh, be thou then the first, the one thou art;
Be thou the calling, before all answering love,
And in me wake up hope, fear, boundless desire.– George MacDonald, Diary of an Old Soul
Been Thinking
Apr 25th
I’ve been thinking. Is it possible to accept an accurate portrayal of who we are and how we got here? I sometimes think we need to capture every moment of the present in some way, because in the not so distant future we will be compelled to write a revisionist’s history of our past.
I think that’s part of coping with who we are, the mistakes we’ve made and the things we can’t change. Performing an internal rewrite of what was is a sad but necessary mechanism for dealing with what is.
Or is it? And if it is, is it a good thing, or not?
Anyway, that’s just one thing I’ve been thinking about as I try to change the story of what was.
Two
Apr 2nd
Two. It’s a long time. It’s not a long time. It’s today. I’m still looking for the pieces, but I don’t know where they are, and I don’t know how they’ll fit back together again… or what they will look like in the end.
Two.
Still breathing.
Where is my tiller?
Mar 16th
I’ve lost my tiller.
I’m alone in the ocean and the swells are rising.
The night is long, the heavens are cloudy and the guiding stars dim.
Where is my direction?
I trim the lines, I rock the boat, I desperately engage the autopilot.
But it’s no use.
I’ve lost my tiller.
I’m adrift.
Desperately waiting for the Sun to lead me where I need to go.
Ultimate Smackdown
Mar 13th
It’s been a month and a day. I’m not gonna lie, it’s been really difficult.
Fortunately there is an Office quote which somehow cheers me up.
What we have here is the ultimate smackdown between the Nard-Dog and crippling despair, loneliness, and depression. I intend to win. –Andy
You know what? I do too.