This one.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Happy Birthday, Katie
Today's a huge day for my sweet Kate. She turns 40. In 40 years Katie has accomplished more than most people accomplish in a lifetime. She graduated from college (first woman in her family, I believe?), has six kids, and has made friends in many places, including the three continents where she has lived and one more where she we to get a baby. I feel lucky to be with her and have been with her. Except today.
Today I don't get to be with her. I wish she had her backpack and hiking shoes on and was sleeping on the ground with me in Sweden. What a horrible birthday to miss.
I miss you Katie and hope you have a wonderful day. It will be wonderful if, even for a moment, you realize how amazing, and how loved, you are.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Where to buy glasses
Check out glasses.com if you're in the market for a pair of glasses. The prices are unbeatable for a great quality product. Each pair comes with polycarbonate lenses and anti-glare coatings. The service is also untouchable. If you don't like your glasses, send them back. Free shipping both ways. 1-800 CONTACTS is changing the way people buy eyewear. Again.
My favorite men's glasses are these Smith Broadcasts in matte blue.
My favorite women's glasses will be up later this week (also Smith). But these Oakley Permissives are a close second.
My favorite men's glasses are these Smith Broadcasts in matte blue.
My favorite women's glasses will be up later this week (also Smith). But these Oakley Permissives are a close second.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Summer math
Friday, May 06, 2011
Groceries and schools
Few economists are so insightful, yet unrelenting, as Don Boudreaux of George Mason University. His take on school choice, in comparison to grocery store choice here.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Second funniest man alive
Has to be Adam Carolla. After Brian Regan. I wish he'd leave out all the eff bombs so I could listen to his podcast.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
IQ test
Congress and the President finally agreed on a $38B spending cut, right? So does that mean that we'll spend $38B less than last year?
Actually, last year we spent $3,456B and this year the CBO projects we'll spend $3,800B with the cuts.
Actually, last year we spent $3,456B and this year the CBO projects we'll spend $3,800B with the cuts.
Glad I'm not alone asking this question
Why has no one gone to jail? Who is the Kenneth Lay of this debacle? They should hold a ticker tape parade in Manhattan with nothing but frog-walking bankers.
Forget gold
A flight to bitcoin is so much cooler. I so hope this catches on. I'm a huge fan of a non-national, open source currency.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The truth about American manufacturing
It is not in decline, but growing (pdf). Jobs have not been lost overseas, but to technology. If they were lost overseas, American output would be in decline. It isn't.
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Summary from October 2010
5 - Pride and the Priesthood - Uchtdorf
We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves.
4 - Of Things That Matter Most - Uchtdorf
[I]t is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions.
3 - Reflections on a Consecrated Life - Christofferson
True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes.
2 - Receive the Holy Ghost - Bednar
These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon.
1 - The Transforming Power of Faith and Character - Scott
We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.
We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves.
4 - Of Things That Matter Most - Uchtdorf
[I]t is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions.
3 - Reflections on a Consecrated Life - Christofferson
True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes.
2 - Receive the Holy Ghost - Bednar
These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon.
1 - The Transforming Power of Faith and Character - Scott
We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
More Rosling genius
Currently my favorite Swede, though it is a close call between him and several friends from Taby forsamling.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Mankiw for President
Another insightful article from my favorite moderate economist in yesterday's NYT.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday best
Putting two and two together:
White is a symbol of purity and holiness.
Pork is the other white meat.
Pulled pork is a great way to break a fast.
White is a symbol of purity and holiness.
Pork is the other white meat.
Pulled pork is a great way to break a fast.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Deep thoughts
I'm on the road this week so I got to spend some time in my current book - The Story of Philosophy - sitting on the tarmac waiting to take off. I bit more weighty than my usual fare, but it has given me some good stuff to think about. Here are a few such things:
Money may be the husk of many things, but not the kernel. It brings you food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness; days of joy, but not peace or happiness.
~ Henrik Ibsen (actually from my Sunday School reading)
Blessedness is not the reward of virtue, but virtue itself.
~ Spinoza
Men who are good by reason desire nothing for themselves which they do not also desire for the rest of mankind. To be great is not to be placed above humanity, ruling others; but to stand above the partialities and futilities of uniformed desire, and to rule one's self.
~Spinoza
It is to him who masters our minds by the force of truth, and not to those who enslave them by violence, that we owe our reverence.
~ Voltaire
Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness. Let us seek happiness in others; but for ourselves, perfection - whether it bring us happiness or pain.
~Kant
When mere creeds or ceremonies usurp priority over moral excellence as a test of religion, religion has disappeared.
~Kant
Look at me - I actually want to read Voltaire and Kant and wish I had the intellectual horsepower to make it through Spinoza. I'm sure it will quickly wear off and the next time you see me I'll be reading some low brow paperback.
Money may be the husk of many things, but not the kernel. It brings you food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness; days of joy, but not peace or happiness.
~ Henrik Ibsen (actually from my Sunday School reading)
Blessedness is not the reward of virtue, but virtue itself.
~ Spinoza
Men who are good by reason desire nothing for themselves which they do not also desire for the rest of mankind. To be great is not to be placed above humanity, ruling others; but to stand above the partialities and futilities of uniformed desire, and to rule one's self.
~Spinoza
It is to him who masters our minds by the force of truth, and not to those who enslave them by violence, that we owe our reverence.
~ Voltaire
Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness. Let us seek happiness in others; but for ourselves, perfection - whether it bring us happiness or pain.
~Kant
When mere creeds or ceremonies usurp priority over moral excellence as a test of religion, religion has disappeared.
~Kant
Look at me - I actually want to read Voltaire and Kant and wish I had the intellectual horsepower to make it through Spinoza. I'm sure it will quickly wear off and the next time you see me I'll be reading some low brow paperback.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Are you smarter than an eight grader?
From today's Freakonomics blog, here's a final exam from 1895 for eighth graders. For the record, I'd be halfway through my 28th year of eighth grade if this was our test.
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters.
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb? Give Principal Parts of do, lie, lay and run.
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
7 – 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 cts. per bu., deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per m?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per are, the distance around which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.
U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of theRebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates:
1607
1620
1800
1849
1865
Orthography (Time, one hour)
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret ‘u’.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final ‘e’. Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: Bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono,super.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: Card, ball, mercy, sir, odd,cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences, Cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.
Geography (Time, one hour)
1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America.
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fermandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give inclination of the earth.
Physiology (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Where are the saliva, gastric juice, and bile secreted? What is the use of each in digestion?
2. How does nutrition reach the circulation?
3. What is the function of the liver? Of the kidneys?
4. How would you stop the flow of blood from an artery in the case of a laceration?
5. Give some general directions that you think would be beneficial to preserve the human body in a state of health.
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters.
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb? Give Principal Parts of do, lie, lay and run.
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
7 – 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 cts. per bu., deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per m?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per are, the distance around which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.
U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of theRebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates:
1607
1620
1800
1849
1865
Orthography (Time, one hour)
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret ‘u’.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final ‘e’. Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: Bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono,super.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: Card, ball, mercy, sir, odd,cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences, Cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.
Geography (Time, one hour)
1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America.
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fermandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give inclination of the earth.
Physiology (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Where are the saliva, gastric juice, and bile secreted? What is the use of each in digestion?
2. How does nutrition reach the circulation?
3. What is the function of the liver? Of the kidneys?
4. How would you stop the flow of blood from an artery in the case of a laceration?
5. Give some general directions that you think would be beneficial to preserve the human body in a state of health.
Tax the Rich
Useful data from Russ Roberts on the realities/myths behind the narrative that our fiscal predicament is because of tax cuts for the rich. IMHO, the stronger narrative is, as Russ alludes to, that the relationship between Wall Street and the Federal government is where we should be looking. Crony capitalism and rent seeking behaviors are on fire on lower Manhattan. I'll always thumb a post that's dismissive of Paul Krugman anywho. His union narrative is either insanely smart and way over my head, or the Nobel has lost some luster.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Apple - Worst Customer Service?
In our business, we define satisfaction as reality minus expectations. We try hard to set reasonable expectations and then over-deliver against them.
Many companies set very low expectations and then deliver against them, for example cable companies, telephone companies, and pretty much every agency of the government, particularly federal. Their service sucks, but this is pretty much expected. Other companies set high expectations and then massively miss their mark.
I believe Apple delivers the worst satisfaction equation I can recall in recent memory. This is partially because they set a high expectation with great product design and a smooth sales process. However, I've now had at least three abysmal customer service experiences as an owner of Apple products. It is astounding to me how badly they take care of people that have already paid.
In business, I've heard this called "taking bad profits". Eventually this catches up with you. I, for one, will be looking for ways to reduce my addiction to all things that start with a lower case i.
Many companies set very low expectations and then deliver against them, for example cable companies, telephone companies, and pretty much every agency of the government, particularly federal. Their service sucks, but this is pretty much expected. Other companies set high expectations and then massively miss their mark.
I believe Apple delivers the worst satisfaction equation I can recall in recent memory. This is partially because they set a high expectation with great product design and a smooth sales process. However, I've now had at least three abysmal customer service experiences as an owner of Apple products. It is astounding to me how badly they take care of people that have already paid.
In business, I've heard this called "taking bad profits". Eventually this catches up with you. I, for one, will be looking for ways to reduce my addiction to all things that start with a lower case i.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Jack Daniels Explains The Deficit
For those that prefer booze and videos to pie charts.
I'm no pie chart fan either.
I'm no pie chart fan either.
Graphical representation of budget cuts
Here.
Here's the first image, for the OCD among you.
Dangit, I hate it when I bring in images behind my right nav. Even worse when that hides the legend. Click if you want. Red is the deficit. Green is the proposed cuts. Yes, green.
Here's the first image, for the OCD among you.
Dangit, I hate it when I bring in images behind my right nav. Even worse when that hides the legend. Click if you want. Red is the deficit. Green is the proposed cuts. Yes, green.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
WTF - Win the Future
Mankiw recasts the future in tomorrow's NY Times. Why is Goolsbee not explaining this to his boss?
Friday, February 04, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Friday, January 07, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Holiday baking
Quick post to remember two things I need to try this holiday season.
Pear and Hazelnut Tart
Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Monday, December 13, 2010
Welcome to the future
Cool demos of SeaDragon and PhotoSynth. Crowdsourced maps and imagery. Fascinating.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
All of your gifting dreams come true
Don't walk. Run. Amazon has all three seasons of Arrested Development on sale for $27.99. Good today only. You will be loved.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Christmas card stats
I'm in the middle of that feared annual event and paused to run some statistics on our "ship tos":
States: 27
Most per state:
1-Utah
2-Texas
3-Idaho
Foreign countries: 4
Zip codes: 166
Surnames:
1) Wright - not a family name
2) Graham
3) Johnson
States: 27
Most per state:
1-Utah
2-Texas
3-Idaho
Foreign countries: 4
Zip codes: 166
Surnames:
1) Wright - not a family name
2) Graham
3) Johnson
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tax the Rich
Democrats want to extend the Bush tax cuts to all but those that make more than $250K. Republicans don't.
Most data I've seen indicates that doing what the Democrats want will not significantly impact the economy adversely. I'm not at all opposed to the rich carrying more of the burden of taxes.
This article by Mankiw today lays out some sound reasoning to hold off on further tax increases. 90% marginal tax seems like a lot, especially when it means cutting take-home pay by 50% from what is currently 80%.
Most data I've seen indicates that doing what the Democrats want will not significantly impact the economy adversely. I'm not at all opposed to the rich carrying more of the burden of taxes.
This article by Mankiw today lays out some sound reasoning to hold off on further tax increases. 90% marginal tax seems like a lot, especially when it means cutting take-home pay by 50% from what is currently 80%.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
How "USA! USA! USA!" sounds with a British accent
Documenting my swing, not right, not left, but upper center...
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Talenti Caramel Cookie Crunch
Long ago I said I was going to start reviewing ice cream - and then I didn't. I know that hundreds of people check in each day in eager anticipation of an ice cream review. Here you go.
Talenti is pricey, as far as grocery store ice cream and gelato goes. My first voyage into their dairy waters was with the Caramel Cookie Crunch. OK, so that's probably not the first gelato I should try. I should probably start with something more traditional. I think I'll try something traditional to give them another shot, because this stuff was no good.
If it was a private label brand, it would have been forgivable. But at $5 for a dinky little pint, I expected far more. I love gelato because of its creaminess. This stuff was not creamy - it had an icey mouthfeel. I wonder if that's just the way it goes with gelato you buy in your freezer section since it is likely difficult to keep it always below freezing.
The flavor was not very good either. With caramel and Oreo, I want one of two things - classic rich caramel (think Mrs Richardson) or something deep and unique (think Fleur de Sel or Michael Rechiutti). This was neither, but stuck somewhere in between. It tried to be rich and unique, but didn't get their.
For my $5, I'd skip the Talenti and go to another standby - Haagen Dazs or Ben & Jerry.
Happy October.
Talenti is pricey, as far as grocery store ice cream and gelato goes. My first voyage into their dairy waters was with the Caramel Cookie Crunch. OK, so that's probably not the first gelato I should try. I should probably start with something more traditional. I think I'll try something traditional to give them another shot, because this stuff was no good.
If it was a private label brand, it would have been forgivable. But at $5 for a dinky little pint, I expected far more. I love gelato because of its creaminess. This stuff was not creamy - it had an icey mouthfeel. I wonder if that's just the way it goes with gelato you buy in your freezer section since it is likely difficult to keep it always below freezing.
The flavor was not very good either. With caramel and Oreo, I want one of two things - classic rich caramel (think Mrs Richardson) or something deep and unique (think Fleur de Sel or Michael Rechiutti). This was neither, but stuck somewhere in between. It tried to be rich and unique, but didn't get their.
For my $5, I'd skip the Talenti and go to another standby - Haagen Dazs or Ben & Jerry.
Happy October.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Six months have come and gone
5 - Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul - Jeffrey Holland
Someone said once that true love must include the idea of permanence. True love endures.
4 - We Follow Jesus Christ - Quentin Cook
Ordinances and doctrines of great importance were initiated at the Last Supper. I will mention just three. First, the Savior introduced the ordinance of the sacrament. He took bread, broke it, prayed over it, and passed it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” In this manner He instituted the sacrament. Second, His overwhelming emphasis was on doctrines teaching love as a preeminent principle. He taught, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Third, through Christ’s intercession or direction, “the Holy Ghost was promised to the apostles” as another Comforter.
3 - You Are My Hands - Dieter Uchtdorf
It is unworthy of us as Christians to think that those who suffer deserve their suffering.
2 - Continue in Patience - Dieter Uchtdorf (a twofer)
There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed.
1 - Watching with All Perseverance - David Bednar
This early warning system applies to children of all ages and contains three basic components: (1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with your children, (2) bearing testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children, and (3) inviting children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon.
Someone said once that true love must include the idea of permanence. True love endures.
4 - We Follow Jesus Christ - Quentin Cook
Ordinances and doctrines of great importance were initiated at the Last Supper. I will mention just three. First, the Savior introduced the ordinance of the sacrament. He took bread, broke it, prayed over it, and passed it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” In this manner He instituted the sacrament. Second, His overwhelming emphasis was on doctrines teaching love as a preeminent principle. He taught, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Third, through Christ’s intercession or direction, “the Holy Ghost was promised to the apostles” as another Comforter.
3 - You Are My Hands - Dieter Uchtdorf
It is unworthy of us as Christians to think that those who suffer deserve their suffering.
2 - Continue in Patience - Dieter Uchtdorf (a twofer)
There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed.
1 - Watching with All Perseverance - David Bednar
This early warning system applies to children of all ages and contains three basic components: (1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with your children, (2) bearing testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children, and (3) inviting children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon.
Religious literacy
Check yours here. No pressure, but I got 15 out of 15. W00t! Be patient - I had a heck of a time getting the pages to load. Maybe it's a popular page today.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Public Transportation Myth Busted
I found this article from Cato worth reading. Not a bad analog for those thinking that if the government takes over an industry (health care?) that costs will improve. Here's an excerpt for the time/link challenged:
This Cato briefing paper compared the costs of different forms of travel in 2006. Updating to 2008, auto owners spent about 22 cents a passenger mile driving, and subsidies to highways added another penny a passenger mile. Airfares averaged about 14 cents a passenger mile, and subsidies to airports added another penny. Amtrak fares averaged 30 cents a passenger mile, and subsidies brought the total to nearly 60 cents. Urban transit is about the most expensive form of travel in the United States, with fares averaging only about 21 cents a passenger mile but subsidies of 72 cents a passenger mile. This makes transit 4 times as expensive as driving.
In short, those who want to get people out of their cars and onto transit are trying to get people from an inexpensive, convenient, and increasingly energy-efficient form of travel to an expensive, inconvenient, and increasingly energy-wasteful form of travel.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Monday, June 07, 2010
Friday, June 04, 2010
Give me liberty...
"All political theories assume, of course, that most individuals are very ignorant. Those who plead for liberty differ from the rest in that they include among the ignorant themselves..."
-Hayek
-Hayek
Thursday, June 03, 2010
What is poor?
Obama wants to redefine poverty as a relative measure, i.e., you are poor if other people are rich, not if you can't afford to eat. Good article from Samuelson in the post here, with a good addition in a letter to the editor here.
I did not realize that such a large proportion of the increase in the poor is made up of poor hispanics.
I did not realize that such a large proportion of the increase in the poor is made up of poor hispanics.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Maybe I'm not so crazy after all
Great article on psychiatry from the New Yorker. At least I think it is great. Then again, it may be the only article I've read on psychiatry so it is #1 of 1. I find it most interesting how psychiatric conditions are added or taken away by political lobbying. I wish someone would also lobby for ALS to no longer exist.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
More or Less Bankruptcy
Under Obamacare, there are two key items to have in mind:
1) The individual mandate - all must have insurance.
2) Pre-existing conditions - insurance companies can't deny coverage based on it.
Because of #2, I have no incentive to comply with #1. I can wait until I'm sick and then get insurance. I'll be fined though, right? Well, unless the fine is greater than the insurance, I'll just pay the fine and call it insurance. Or not pay. What happens if I don't pay for the insurance or the fine? Will I be forced into bankruptcy with the US Government as my creditor? Or will I be thrown in jail?
One very good reason to reform healthcare is the number of bankruptcies attributed to healthcare catastrophes. Will an individual mandate actually create more bankruptcies?
The practicalities of health care make fixing it brutally difficult.
1) The individual mandate - all must have insurance.
2) Pre-existing conditions - insurance companies can't deny coverage based on it.
Because of #2, I have no incentive to comply with #1. I can wait until I'm sick and then get insurance. I'll be fined though, right? Well, unless the fine is greater than the insurance, I'll just pay the fine and call it insurance. Or not pay. What happens if I don't pay for the insurance or the fine? Will I be forced into bankruptcy with the US Government as my creditor? Or will I be thrown in jail?
One very good reason to reform healthcare is the number of bankruptcies attributed to healthcare catastrophes. Will an individual mandate actually create more bankruptcies?
The practicalities of health care make fixing it brutally difficult.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
A Good Cause
Every year 29,000 kids age out of foster care in the US. Within two years, 60% will be homeless, dead or in jail. I found those numbers staggering. If you want to make a small difference in a few of their lives, here's a nice project locally.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Teach like a champion
It's a totally lame title, but I just finished this book and thought it was simply extraordinary. We're all teachers, even if it isn't our profession. I thought it had great ideas for teaching at church or at home. Here's an article I recently read about the author and his program that will show you why I decided to buy a book on teaching. I liked the book so much I wrote a five page summary of it that I can refer to frequently. If you'd like a copy of the summary, email me and I'll send it since I don't think I can upload word docs onto blogger. The summary might not all make sense without reading the book, but much of it will.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Ben's Take on Happiness
Ben Bernanke gave the commencement address at the University of South Carolina this year and I think he did a great job of summarizing the "economics of happiness". I recommend you give it a read, even though it's a bit long, as most commencement addresses are. For the ADD among you, here are a list of the keys to happiness nd couple of snippets:
Ben's Keys:
1) Spend time with family and friends.
2) Spend time in activities that give you "flow".
3) Challenge yourself.
Ben's Keys:
1) Spend time with family and friends.
2) Spend time in activities that give you "flow".
3) Challenge yourself.
More generally, economic policymakers should pay attention to family and community cohesion. All else equal, good economic policies should encourage and support stable families and promote civic engagement. And to help people feel in control of their own destinies, policies should respect the autonomy of individuals, families, and communities to make their own decisions whenever possible, as research has confirmed the intuitive notion that individual freedoms contribute to life satisfaction.
Happiness is just one component of the broader, longer-term concept of life satisfaction, and only one indicator of how the fabric of our lives is being shaped by our choices and circumstances. I am reminded of a story about Abraham Lincoln. According to the story, Lincoln was riding with a friend in a carriage on a rainy evening. As they rode, Lincoln told the friend that he believed in what economists would call the utility-maximizing theory of behavior, that people always act so as to maximize their own happiness, and for no other reason. Just then, the carriage crossed a bridge, and Lincoln saw a pig stuck in the muddy riverbank. Telling the carriage driver to stop, Lincoln struggled through the rain and mud, picked up the pig, and carried it to safety. When the muddy Lincoln returned to the carriage, his friend naturally pointed out that he had just disproved his own hypothesis by putting himself to great trouble and discomfort to save a pig. "Not at all," said Lincoln. "What I did is perfectly consistent with my theory. If I hadn't saved that pig, I would have felt terrible."
I, Pigovian
Holman Jenkins nails the Pigovian argument today in the WSJ. If you want to use less oil, charge more, don't give tax credits for alternatives. Charging more raises revenue and cuts consumption. Giving tax credits to a highly regressive tax (the people getting the tax credits are not poor) and encourages consumption. Here's a great excerpt:
Even if you believe saving gasoline is a holy cause, subsidizing electric cars simply is not a substitute for politicians finding the courage to jack up gas prices. Think about it this way: You can double the fuel efficiency of any car by putting a second person in it. You can increase its fuel efficiency to infinity by refraining from frivolous trips.
These are the incentives that flow from a higher gas price. Exactly the opposite incentives flow from mandatory investment in higher-mileage vehicles. You paid a lot for a car that costs very little to operate—so why not operate it? Why bother to car pool? Why not drive across town for a jar of mayonnaise?
Though as eager as any to clamber aboard the electric-vehicle bandwagon, German parts maker Robert Bosch notes with rare honesty that electric cars may end up responsible for more CO2 than their conventional counterparts in regions (like much of the U.S.) where electricity is produced from coal.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The downside of entitlements
Doom and gloom article from Samuelson today on the threat of the welfare state. Here's an excerpt:
The welfare state's death spiral is this: Almost anything governments might do with their budgets threatens to make matters worse by slowing the economy or triggering a recession. By allowing deficits to balloon, they risk a financial crisis as investors one day -- no one knows when -- doubt governments' ability to service their debts and, as with Greece, refuse to lend except at exorbitant rates. Cutting welfare benefits or raising taxes all would, at least temporarily, weaken the economy. Perversely, that would make paying the remaining benefits harder.
Friday, May 07, 2010
The Constitution - Not for Children
Check out the copyright page on this edition of the Constitution. Good warning for the progressive era.
HT: Cato
HT: Cato
Death tax
Despite my recent trend toward libertarian posts, I'm not at all averse to taxation. I'm in favor of taxes in the following order:
1) Pigovian taxes (externalities, e.g., gasoline, cigarette taxes)
2) Estate taxes (death tax)
3) Consumption taxes (sales tax)
4) Production taxes (e.g., income)
This image gives me pause on my enthusiasm for each generation earning his/her own through high estate taxes:
1) Pigovian taxes (externalities, e.g., gasoline, cigarette taxes)
2) Estate taxes (death tax)
3) Consumption taxes (sales tax)
4) Production taxes (e.g., income)
This image gives me pause on my enthusiasm for each generation earning his/her own through high estate taxes:
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Definition of a capitalist
I don't normally read the National Review, but thought this was a useful description of capitalism as a place that lies between socialism and anarchy, not to be confused with anarchy itself. (HT: Cafe Hayek)
If by “capitalist” you mean someone who cares more about his own profit than yours; if you mean someone who cares more about providing for his family than providing for yours; if you mean someone who trusts that he is a better caretaker of his own interests and desires than a bureaucrat he’s never met, often in a city he’s never been to: then we are all capitalists. Because, by that standard, capitalism isn’t some far-off theory about the allocation of capital; it is a commonsense description of what motivates pretty much all human beings everywhere.
And that was one of the reasons why the hard socialism of the Soviet Union failed, and it is why the soft socialism of Western Europe is so anemic. At the end of the day, it is entirely natural for humans to work the system–any system–for their own betterment, whatever kind of system that may be. That’s why the black-market economy of the Soviet Union might have in fact been bigger than the official socialist economy. That is why devoted socialists worked the bureaucracy to get the best homes, get their kids into the best schools, and provide their families with the best food, clothes, and amenities they could. Just like people in capitalist countries.
It’s why labor unions demanded exemptions and “carve-outs” from Obamacare for their own health-care plans. And why very rich liberals still try their best to minimize their taxes.
The problem with socialism is socialism, because there are no socialists. Socialism is a system based upon an assumption about human nature that simply isn’t true. I can design a perfect canine community in which dogs never chase squirrels or groom their nether regions in an indelicate manner. But the moment I take that idea from the drawing board to the real world, I will discover that I cannot get dogs to behave against their nature–at least not without inflicting a terrible amount of punishment. Likewise, it’s easy to design a society that rewards each according to his need instead of his ability. The hard part is getting the crooked timber of humanity to yield to your vision.
And it’s also why the problem with capitalism is capitalists. Some people will always abuse the system and take things too far. Some will do it out of the hubris of intellect. Some will do it out of the venality of greed.
I bring all of this up because many in Washington seem convinced that the solution to the problem with capitalists is always less capitalism. To be sure, a free-market society is in some sense a government program. The government must prosecute criminality, enforce contracts, and demand that the rules be observed. Few lovers of free markets are so laissez-faire as to want to strip the government of its role as referee.
But few should want the ref to suit up and play the game.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Monday, May 03, 2010
Bring on the Squash
I don't like zucchini. I never have. However, it is the one thing that I know I could plant anywhere, never water, without sunlight and it would still grow to the moon. We're on the verge of planting our garden and I'm sure we're a couple of months from zucchini mounting on the counter. When they do, this is the first recipe I'm going to try. Sounds awesome. HT: Wednesday Chef.
Zucchini Pancakes
Makes 12 pancakes
For the pancakes
3 medium zucchini, shredded
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1-2 tablespoons finely shredded fresh mint
1 teaspoon baking powder (I forgot to add this! And they were fine)
4 to 6 tablespoons vegetable oil, more as needed
For the yogurt sauce
2/3 cup plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place zucchini in a colander over a bowl, and mix with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Allow to drain for five minutes. Transfer to a cloth kitchen towel, and squeeze hard to extract as much moisture as possible. Squeeze a second time; volume will shrink to about half the original.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine zucchini and eggs. Using a fork, mix well. Add flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, olive oil, feta, scallions, mint and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well, add baking powder, if using, and mix again.
3. Place a cast iron skillet or other heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Place heaping tablespoons of zucchini batter in pan several inches apart, allowing room to spread. Flatten them with a spatula if necessary; pancakes should be about 3/8 inch thick and about 3 inches in diameter. Fry until golden on one side, then turn and fry again until golden on other side. Repeat once or twice, frying about 5 to 6 minutes total, so pancakes get quite crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels, and keep warm in oven. Continue frying remaining batter, adding more oil to pan as needed. Serve hot.
4. For yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, combine yogurt, garlic and salt. Mix well, and serve on the side or on pancakes.
Zucchini Pancakes
Makes 12 pancakes
For the pancakes
3 medium zucchini, shredded
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1-2 tablespoons finely shredded fresh mint
1 teaspoon baking powder (I forgot to add this! And they were fine)
4 to 6 tablespoons vegetable oil, more as needed
For the yogurt sauce
2/3 cup plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place zucchini in a colander over a bowl, and mix with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Allow to drain for five minutes. Transfer to a cloth kitchen towel, and squeeze hard to extract as much moisture as possible. Squeeze a second time; volume will shrink to about half the original.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine zucchini and eggs. Using a fork, mix well. Add flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, olive oil, feta, scallions, mint and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well, add baking powder, if using, and mix again.
3. Place a cast iron skillet or other heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Place heaping tablespoons of zucchini batter in pan several inches apart, allowing room to spread. Flatten them with a spatula if necessary; pancakes should be about 3/8 inch thick and about 3 inches in diameter. Fry until golden on one side, then turn and fry again until golden on other side. Repeat once or twice, frying about 5 to 6 minutes total, so pancakes get quite crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels, and keep warm in oven. Continue frying remaining batter, adding more oil to pan as needed. Serve hot.
4. For yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, combine yogurt, garlic and salt. Mix well, and serve on the side or on pancakes.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Higher Taxes = Less Work
I hadn't read this (pdf) Nobel-written paper before. Interesting to see how closely he can model the degree to which people work less when you tax them more. Little surprise that I favor less government and stronger individual incentives. We like papers that support our view of the world, don't we?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
An inheritance
I came across this column today (sorry it's a year old) and was impressed that this is precisely the sort of inheritance I feel I've been given and could be so lucky as to one day pass along.
Bankrupting America
This makes the point fairly clearly. Bonus points for the first to identify what has driven down income/household in the period mentioned. Clue - focus on the denominator, not the numerator.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Amnesia
Good to remember who was fighting for/against reform at Freddie/Fannie before the crisis. I'm surprised by the public's misperception of who drove the risky behavior. I'm not generally an apologist for Republicans, particularly the Bush administration, but Obama's rhetoric about the financial crisis and who was behind it has long ago passed disingenuous and is quickly approaching dishonest.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Healthcare just like the mail
Anyone thinking that a more government-run healthcare system would reduce the cost of healthcare might want to peruse this report on the current financial predicament of the postal service. Unintentional comedy galore if you can get past the idea that you're reading from an 80-page government report.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Quick, take a picture
The Cubs are at .500, but they're tied 4-4 in the 5th, so this may be your last chance to see them on bubble until 2011.
I don't know that I can be a Cubs fan. Cubs fans are not sore losers.
I don't know that I can be a Cubs fan. Cubs fans are not sore losers.
Land of the free or land of the entitled?
Insightful post by the rational optimist well worth a read. Here's a nice excerpt (How could it not be nice if it uses the word "recrudescence"? Look it up. I had to.):
America’s longtime sources of strength have been its spirit of individual enterprise and innovation, people motivated to work hard and try new things, confident in their ability to succeed and confound naysayers. This is propelled by America’s freedom and openness, as a meritocratic egalitarian society – egalitarian not in results but, rather, with every person standing on his or her own merits (not pedigree or privilege). Of course it’s imperfect, but these fundamental characteristics are in America’s DNA.
Now, however, a different strand has crept into our national DNA – the ethos of entitlement. It’s a recrudescence of the old world paradigm of entrenched privilege that America was founded to get away from. But in today’s USA, entrenched privilege is everywhere, exerted not by some elite oligarchy but by practically every segment of society.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Myths about China
Interesting article debunking five key myths about China. I learned something. I didn't realize the US manufacturing sector is larger than China's, for example.
Kettle, you're black
First, a disclaimer. I hate fees. I hate the fees that airlines have started charging - for food, baggage, etc., etc.
That said, I find it a riot that our Transportation Secretary and members of Congress are so outraged that they want to take matters into their hands.
Um, is there an organization on God's green earth that finds more ways to nickel and dime me more, day in and day out? How many different ways are there to pay the government? How many "fees" do I pay - in my paycheck, at the grocery store, at the pump, if I smoke, to get my driver's or business license, etc.?
How politically palatable would it be if instead of being charged in so many ways, each of us just got one big tax bill each month and had to send in a check for it by the 15th? Even better, what if you had to stand by a machine and watch the tax bill mount, like standing at the pump watching your gas go into the car? No one, no one, no one is more adept at slipping fees into everything we do than the government is.
Sheesh.
That said, I find it a riot that our Transportation Secretary and members of Congress are so outraged that they want to take matters into their hands.
Um, is there an organization on God's green earth that finds more ways to nickel and dime me more, day in and day out? How many different ways are there to pay the government? How many "fees" do I pay - in my paycheck, at the grocery store, at the pump, if I smoke, to get my driver's or business license, etc.?
How politically palatable would it be if instead of being charged in so many ways, each of us just got one big tax bill each month and had to send in a check for it by the 15th? Even better, what if you had to stand by a machine and watch the tax bill mount, like standing at the pump watching your gas go into the car? No one, no one, no one is more adept at slipping fees into everything we do than the government is.
Sheesh.
On a lighter note, Twilight Struggle rocks
I got to play a quick game of TS with Tom last night. I've only played it a few times since I rarely get to play two player games, especially ones that last a few hours. Man is it worth it though. If you're a cold war history buff, do yourself a favor and check this one out.
Does Government = Society?
I just watched a classic Milton Friedman clip from a talk in the 70s in which he was asked whether society has a responsibility to provide for the poor. This distinction between government and society (or lack thereof) seems to be a philosophical basis for one divide between conservatives and liberals, particularly when it comes to entitlement programs such as healthcare reform.
The clip brought into resolution that point of contention within me. I believe strongly that I, and each of us, has a heavy responsibility to provide for the less fortunate. There but for the grace of God go I. I am far less convinced that the right mechanism to do so is to outsource that responsibility to the government. Perhaps this makes me a bit conservative constitutionally. I guess that's what makes me a bleeding heart liberal that can't bring himself to vote Democrat very often, particularly in federal elections.
If you're interested, here's the clip (http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2010/04/milton-friedman-on-responsibility-to.html).
HT: Cafe Hayek
The clip brought into resolution that point of contention within me. I believe strongly that I, and each of us, has a heavy responsibility to provide for the less fortunate. There but for the grace of God go I. I am far less convinced that the right mechanism to do so is to outsource that responsibility to the government. Perhaps this makes me a bit conservative constitutionally. I guess that's what makes me a bleeding heart liberal that can't bring himself to vote Democrat very often, particularly in federal elections.
If you're interested, here's the clip (http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2010/04/milton-friedman-on-responsibility-to.html).
HT: Cafe Hayek
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Signs of recovery
I know almost nothing about investing. Probably not a good thing for a Chicago MBA to say, but there it is. I have a pretty boring and straightforward philosophy - buy and hold a diversified portfolio. The trick to this, that I learned from my dad, who unlike me was indeed a great investor, is to ignore your portfolio as much as you can.
I have heeded that advice diligently for the last couple of years. I figured that if I looked closely at my 401k, at best I'd feel depressed and at worst I'd overreact and pull my money out, buying high and selling low.
Today I got my reminder that my monthly statement for my BCG 401k is now available online. I clicked through out of curiosity. This graph is my portfolio in this particular 401k. Note that this says NOTHING about my ability to invest since this is pretty much just an index. However, it says a lot about the current economic recovery. I was pretty floored by the steep decline, but corresponding incline.
I should be clear - part of the reason it has a healthy incline is that I invested capital at the beginning of the last two years (those are the only two points where cash was invested in this graph). At any rate, with a bit of my own stimulus, the fund is back on its longer term trajectory. And I didn't have to saddle my children and grandchildren with debt to make that stimulus work.
I have heeded that advice diligently for the last couple of years. I figured that if I looked closely at my 401k, at best I'd feel depressed and at worst I'd overreact and pull my money out, buying high and selling low.
Today I got my reminder that my monthly statement for my BCG 401k is now available online. I clicked through out of curiosity. This graph is my portfolio in this particular 401k. Note that this says NOTHING about my ability to invest since this is pretty much just an index. However, it says a lot about the current economic recovery. I was pretty floored by the steep decline, but corresponding incline.
I should be clear - part of the reason it has a healthy incline is that I invested capital at the beginning of the last two years (those are the only two points where cash was invested in this graph). At any rate, with a bit of my own stimulus, the fund is back on its longer term trajectory. And I didn't have to saddle my children and grandchildren with debt to make that stimulus work.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Saturday, April 03, 2010
It's the first weekend in April
I'm sad to be traveling today and tomorrow instead of sitting in front of the TV enjoying "jammy church". Don't panic though - here are my top five picks from October:
Bednar - More Diligent and Concerned at Home
Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results.
Monson - School Thy Feelings, O My Brother
“Anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.”
“A man’s a fool who takes an insult that isn’t intended.”
Scott - To Acquire Spiritual Guidance
Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it.
[S]trong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Holland - Safety for the Soul
I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.
Monson - What I Have I Done for Someone Today?
A few years ago I read an article written by Jack McConnell, MD. He grew up in the hills of southwest Virginia in the United States as one of seven children of a Methodist minister and a stay-at-home mother. Their circumstances were very humble. He recounted that during his childhood, every day as the family sat around the dinner table, his father would ask each one in turn, “And what did you do for someone today?” The children were determined to do a good turn every day so they could report to their father that they had helped someone. Dr. McConnell calls this exercise his father’s most valuable legacy, for that expectation and those words inspired him and his siblings to help others throughout their lives.
Enjoy your weekend of inspired thoughts and Sunday brunch.
Bednar - More Diligent and Concerned at Home
Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results.
Monson - School Thy Feelings, O My Brother
“Anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.”
“A man’s a fool who takes an insult that isn’t intended.”
Scott - To Acquire Spiritual Guidance
Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it.
[S]trong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Holland - Safety for the Soul
I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.
Monson - What I Have I Done for Someone Today?
A few years ago I read an article written by Jack McConnell, MD. He grew up in the hills of southwest Virginia in the United States as one of seven children of a Methodist minister and a stay-at-home mother. Their circumstances were very humble. He recounted that during his childhood, every day as the family sat around the dinner table, his father would ask each one in turn, “And what did you do for someone today?” The children were determined to do a good turn every day so they could report to their father that they had helped someone. Dr. McConnell calls this exercise his father’s most valuable legacy, for that expectation and those words inspired him and his siblings to help others throughout their lives.
Enjoy your weekend of inspired thoughts and Sunday brunch.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
They don't make them like they used to
I thought this was an interesting video to dispel the notion that cars were safer back in the old days.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Cadillac plans
I think I understand most of the elements of the healthcare debate. However, I don't understand the fascination with taxing "Cadillac plans". Generally speaking, I have to imagine plans like this are high margin, which means at least one of two things:
1) Insurance companies are making a lot of profit off of the people that have them.
2) The margin from these is used to subsidize lower margin products.
Why is either of these a concern for the government? Why tax it? I'm honestly stumped.
If people are willing to pay in inordinately into healthcare, God bless them at this point. Glad someone is.
The greatest irony to me is that (here I completely lack the data) I would assume that the largest contingencies who would have such sweet plans would either be union or government workers - not the folks Democrats generally like to foist taxes upon.
1) Insurance companies are making a lot of profit off of the people that have them.
2) The margin from these is used to subsidize lower margin products.
Why is either of these a concern for the government? Why tax it? I'm honestly stumped.
If people are willing to pay in inordinately into healthcare, God bless them at this point. Glad someone is.
The greatest irony to me is that (here I completely lack the data) I would assume that the largest contingencies who would have such sweet plans would either be union or government workers - not the folks Democrats generally like to foist taxes upon.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Healthcare values
I realize I'm slow on this, but thought this editorial worth sharing, even belatedly. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/opinion/24brooks.html?_r=1
Friday, February 26, 2010
Happy Friday
He who learns must suffer. Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, and against our will, comes wisdom by the awful grace of God.
~ Aeschylus
~ Aeschylus
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Evan Bayh
Excellent Newsweek article on Bayh's decision to leave the Senate. I knew nothing about him before this week, which shows how little I follow politics. He seems like the kind of guy we should have more of in DC.
Two words rejected
I hear two words overused right now in the political debate and would like to send them both to the penalty box for a while.
The first: Referendum.
In 1994, the Republicans were dumb enough to believe that the landslide victory they enjoyed in the midterm elections was a referendum on their agenda - the contract with America. It was a referendum - one of confidence in the president at the time, Clinton, and his broad-sweeping healthcare reform plan.
Last year, the Democrats made the same mistake and still haven't figured it out. The landslide last year was a referendum on Bush, not on big government. In fact, Bush was big government, so if anything the referendum was on shrinking government. It was not a mandate (the also-popular synonymous cousin of referendum) to increase deficit spending to drive an expansionist agenda.
I doubt I have a politician who reads here, but just in case, please remember that when there's a landslide election victory, most people are running FROM something, not TOWARD something.
The second: obstructionism.
Any time one party or another can't get bipartisan support for a policy, the other party is labeled overly partisan, or obstructionist. Don't get me wrong - many times there is obstructionism for obstructionism's sake and is really bad for the system. However, the term has been so overused it has become meaningless and cliche. If a group of politicians stands against a policy long enough that the people want passed, they won't be politicians for long. Many if not most of the times I've heard the term used lately (as well as during the 90s when the shoe was on the other foot), what's really happening is that the group in power is trying to force through unpopular policies and can't get votes. Instead of name-calling, they might be better served by moderating their policies to get the votes, particularly those of moderates within their own party.
Obstructionism and referendum, you've both been duly warned.
The first: Referendum.
In 1994, the Republicans were dumb enough to believe that the landslide victory they enjoyed in the midterm elections was a referendum on their agenda - the contract with America. It was a referendum - one of confidence in the president at the time, Clinton, and his broad-sweeping healthcare reform plan.
Last year, the Democrats made the same mistake and still haven't figured it out. The landslide last year was a referendum on Bush, not on big government. In fact, Bush was big government, so if anything the referendum was on shrinking government. It was not a mandate (the also-popular synonymous cousin of referendum) to increase deficit spending to drive an expansionist agenda.
I doubt I have a politician who reads here, but just in case, please remember that when there's a landslide election victory, most people are running FROM something, not TOWARD something.
The second: obstructionism.
Any time one party or another can't get bipartisan support for a policy, the other party is labeled overly partisan, or obstructionist. Don't get me wrong - many times there is obstructionism for obstructionism's sake and is really bad for the system. However, the term has been so overused it has become meaningless and cliche. If a group of politicians stands against a policy long enough that the people want passed, they won't be politicians for long. Many if not most of the times I've heard the term used lately (as well as during the 90s when the shoe was on the other foot), what's really happening is that the group in power is trying to force through unpopular policies and can't get votes. Instead of name-calling, they might be better served by moderating their policies to get the votes, particularly those of moderates within their own party.
Obstructionism and referendum, you've both been duly warned.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Health Care Moving in the "Right" Direction
Ryan's plan appears worth studying.
Summary, grabbed from Heritage:
1. Changing the Tax Treatment of Health Coverage
Current tax treatment of health insurance gives preference to employer-based coverage by making benefits tax free to the employee and the employer alike. Obviously, this tax policy only benefits those who receive coverage through their employer. It benefits those who also have the biggest benefit packages, usually, but not always, the wealthy. Ryan’s “Roadmap”replaces this inequitable system through creating a system of refundable tax credits of $2,300 for individuals and $5,700 for families for the purchase of health coverage. As Heritage experts have pointed out this will transform the market to respond to patients’ needs, allow portability of insurance between jobs, and further the goal of universal access.
Replacing the tax exclusion with a health care tax credit would not only help the middle class buy insurance and extend coverage to the uninsured; it would also set in place powerful incentives to reduce the rapid growth in health care expenditures…individuals and families will have the ability to choose the health plan they want, own it, and take it with them from job to job. This tax credit would also have the added benefit of allowing individuals and families to decide how much of their compensation comes to them in the form of health insurance
2. Promoting State- Based Reform and Exchanges
The Ryan “Roadmap” would create a Federal-State partnership to help states that wanted to do so create State Health Insurance Exchanges, featuring high-risk pools combined with guaranteed access to care with affordable premiums. A state health insurance exchange can be designed many different ways. The key question is what is the objective of such an exchange. For consumers who want to own and control their health insurance, and take it with them from job to job, a properly designed state exchange, as Heritage’s Robert Moffit argues, can make it easy for employees , especially those in small businesses to compare and buy affordable health plans. It can unleash the free market forces of choice and competition. An exchange designed to restrict health options, as is now being promoted by the Left, is just another regulatory roadblock to personal freedom.
3. Allow Interstate Purchasing of Health Coverage
Congressman Ryan’s proposal would also allow individuals to use their refundable tax credits towards the purchase of health insurance policies in any state. As Moffit explains, interstate competition would lead to broader and more intense competition, greater personal choice and more affordable coverage, and would secure value for consumers’ dollars.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office evaluated Congressman Ryan’s Roadmap favorably, finding that “[The health insurance tax credit] could impose significant downward pressure on… the growth of overall spending on health care.” The Roadmap would also reform Medicare, putting it on more solid fiscal ground and molding it into a more consumer-driven system.
Summary, grabbed from Heritage:
1. Changing the Tax Treatment of Health Coverage
Current tax treatment of health insurance gives preference to employer-based coverage by making benefits tax free to the employee and the employer alike. Obviously, this tax policy only benefits those who receive coverage through their employer. It benefits those who also have the biggest benefit packages, usually, but not always, the wealthy. Ryan’s “Roadmap”replaces this inequitable system through creating a system of refundable tax credits of $2,300 for individuals and $5,700 for families for the purchase of health coverage. As Heritage experts have pointed out this will transform the market to respond to patients’ needs, allow portability of insurance between jobs, and further the goal of universal access.
Replacing the tax exclusion with a health care tax credit would not only help the middle class buy insurance and extend coverage to the uninsured; it would also set in place powerful incentives to reduce the rapid growth in health care expenditures…individuals and families will have the ability to choose the health plan they want, own it, and take it with them from job to job. This tax credit would also have the added benefit of allowing individuals and families to decide how much of their compensation comes to them in the form of health insurance
2. Promoting State- Based Reform and Exchanges
The Ryan “Roadmap” would create a Federal-State partnership to help states that wanted to do so create State Health Insurance Exchanges, featuring high-risk pools combined with guaranteed access to care with affordable premiums. A state health insurance exchange can be designed many different ways. The key question is what is the objective of such an exchange. For consumers who want to own and control their health insurance, and take it with them from job to job, a properly designed state exchange, as Heritage’s Robert Moffit argues, can make it easy for employees , especially those in small businesses to compare and buy affordable health plans. It can unleash the free market forces of choice and competition. An exchange designed to restrict health options, as is now being promoted by the Left, is just another regulatory roadblock to personal freedom.
3. Allow Interstate Purchasing of Health Coverage
Congressman Ryan’s proposal would also allow individuals to use their refundable tax credits towards the purchase of health insurance policies in any state. As Moffit explains, interstate competition would lead to broader and more intense competition, greater personal choice and more affordable coverage, and would secure value for consumers’ dollars.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office evaluated Congressman Ryan’s Roadmap favorably, finding that “[The health insurance tax credit] could impose significant downward pressure on… the growth of overall spending on health care.” The Roadmap would also reform Medicare, putting it on more solid fiscal ground and molding it into a more consumer-driven system.
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