Trying the P2 theme on my WordPress blog.

(I created this comment for Paul Krugman’s Public Option Essay but when I hit submit I got “The comment are is closed”. So, I’m saving the words and ideas here).

There are essential social services that do not function effectively as a “private industry” exclusively.

I believe and have for 40 years that Health Care is such a service. For the most egregious cases we have the government managed health care:

emergency room services in major cities for example are government run

A private health care system will optimize itself to control costs: not the users cost but the systems costs:

remove low profit users from the system: pre-existing conditions, pay out limits, high fees for “self-funded” users of the services.

The current system won’t scale: it rations care with the most basic control of a for profit system: ability to pay.

Everyone that has health care insure pays for it and those costs are escalating.

My 22 year old daughter just fell out of my coverage and is seeking a job. Until she finds one we are in need of an affordable coverage plan for contingencies. A publc plan would be a great service to me and I’d prefer to see my taxes raised to create this social safety net for all americans rather than our misguide attempts to bring dmocracy to Iraq and Iran at the cost of $trillions. I want my money directed towards bring an effective democracy to the US… with an effective democracy 45 million underserved people would be an issue that our government seeks to address.

In a few years the other 115M people will see the err of deffering healthcare reform as the increases in costs and the use of rationing/denial of services increase to levels we all think are criminal.

Anyone in good health won’t see the problems but if they have problems that require effective “insureance” they will wonder why this wasn’t fixed in the 1980’s.

“I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond!

I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

Behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, ridin the wave, dodgin the bullet and pushin the envelope. I’m on-point, on-task, on-message and off drugs. I’ve got no need for coke and speed. I’ve got no urge to binge and purge. I’m in-the-moment, on-the-edge, over-the-top and under-the-radar. A high-concept, low-profile, medium-range ballistic missionary. A street-wise smart bomb. A top-gun bottom feeder. I wear power ties, I tell power lies, I take power naps and run victory laps. I’m a totally ongoing big-foot, slam-dunk, rainmaker with a pro-active outreach. A raging workaholic. A working rageaholic. Out of rehab and in denial!

I’ve got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda. You can’t shut me up. You can’t dumb me down because I’m tireless and I’m wireless, I’m an alpha male on beta-blockers.

I’m a non-believer and an over-achiever, laid-back but fashion-forward. Up-front, down-home, low-rent, high-maintenance. Super-sized, long-lasting, high-definition, fast-acting, oven-ready and built-to-last! I’m a hands-on, foot-loose, knee-jerk head case pretty maturely post-traumatic and I’ve got a love-child that sends me hate mail.

But, I’m feeling, I’m caring, I’m healing, I’m sharing– a supportive, bonding, nurturing primary care-giver. My output is down, but my income is up. I took a short position on the long bond and my revenue stream has its own cash-flow. I read junk mail, I eat junk food, I buy junk bonds and I watch trash sports! I’m gender specific, capital intensive, user-friendly and lactose intolerant.

I like rough sex. I like tough love. I use the “F” word in my emails and the software on my hard-drive is hardcore–no soft porn.

I bought a microwave at a mini-mall; I bought a mini-van at a mega-store. I eat fast-food in the slow lane. I’m toll-free, bite-sized, ready-to-wear and I come in all sizes. A fully-equipped, factory-authorized, hospital-tested, clinically-proven, scientifically- formulated medical miracle. I’ve been pre-wash, pre-cooked, pre-heated, pre-screened, pre-approved, pre-packaged, post-dated, freeze-dried, double-wrapped, vacuum-packed and, I have an unlimited broadband capacity.

I’m a rude dude, but I’m the real deal. Lean and mean! Cocked, locked and ready-to-rock. Rough, tough and hard to bluff. I take it slow, I go with the flow, I ride with the tide. I’ve got glide in my stride. Drivin and movin, sailin and spinin, jiving and groovin, wailin and winnin. I don’t snooze, so I don’t lose. I keep the pedal to the metal and the rubber on the road. I party hearty and lunch time is crunch time. I’m hangin in, there ain’t no doubt and I’m hangin tough, over and out!”

~George Carlin, a comedic genius and poet extraodinaire

Yet Another Blog Comment:

• avoiding a politics of divisiveness and character assassination that drives good people from the process and leaves it to the most deceitful and manipulative personalities that can work those strategies to great effect
• reducing the effect of lobbyists on the legislative decision process
• focusing on issues that divide the very wealthy from the least of us
• improving the perception that a strong country does invest in good governance and regulation that benefits and contributes to the greatest good

In conclusion, Obama is hope for change that can start to fix the “no tax and overspend” politics that has become the hallmark of Republican greed and manipulation of a once great nation.

Debt and fear are terrible forces upon the human and public body… they lead to a failed economic system and an early grave.

They will attack Obama for spending money to fix problems for “those who won’t care for themselves” but that great lie needs to be confronted honestly and with great passion: it’s a hard fight to get people to see the consequences of socialized greed and indifference and it will take a great orator to help more people see the value of giving to make a better world.

“Obliterating Iran” is NOT the message I’d like to see America share with the world right now. The world would hope we could manage Iran emergence into power in their region and NOT force them into becoming excessively hostile to our interests. We can have a positive role in the world and we lost that leadership through our ill advised actions.

What we’ve been doing for 8 years has made our people and nation less safe and Obama has the original vision to find a better path to confront hatred… at home and abroad.

Hope? Yes, we should.
Fear? No, not any longer.
Change? Yes, we can.

Count on it.
Make it happen.
Be that change.
Join us… don’t stay home. Vote for the possibility.

Will he fail? Only if we let it happen… and even then, he will have stood for something that can only be termed a success: trying to make the world better.

I left this one here -> http://truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-name-is-nicole-and-i-stand-with-my.html

Nicole,

“Can’t we all just get along?”

The media loves to see all questions as “Yes or No”, “True of False” or…
sorry “Black or White”. But, the best questions are nothing more than a request for us to think… to think deeply.

I desparately want to see a change in the US Government. It will become a Yes|No question in November.

What Barack Obama was forced to do this week was take a “Yes or No” stance on a relationship that has lasted 20 years… It was obviously painful for him.

Reverend Wright has taken a stance on race and American Politics that has it’s roots in the Black Liberation Theology and it raises a simple question that the media will return to over and over:

Does Barack Obama believe in the fundamental stance of Balck Liberation Theology?

I don’t think he does. I think he sees another path to improve the lives of all Americans and he’s a trascendent political figure. He is asking us to jump into Martin Luther King’s dream and judge him by the strength of his character and not the color of his skin.

For me, that’s a question worth asking America… the time is now and the opportunity to move beyond race and inot a generation of character is here.

Let’s take the opportunity and talk about character. Reverend Wright and Barack Obama are men of solid character and watching them fight over their egos and their approaches to social justice is sad. The rest of us need to say “Stop”.

The people that prefer to see us divided and easily manipulated are enjoying the self-inflicted lever that has been created to prevent the rise to power of a good man who seems committed to making changes that will benefit all Americans without regard for the color of their skin, their gender or the religion they choose to practice.

What ARE we waiting for? Who do we think can take us to the next level? Why would we continue to fuel the flames of argument between people that need to join hands to see the changes they have been waiting for for so long?

Finter-pointing, name calling and trying to prove someone if more rigth than someone else is becoming a pawn in the game that is controlled by those in power.
When the pawns realize they have strength in numbers then the opportunity will be made clear… and the question will be
“Yes or No” to make a change.

I say Yes.

PS> I really enjoyed the Reverend’s speech to the NAACP. He’s not as “us vs them” person. He’s in many ways trying to get us all to accept that we are different but those differences are like the spices in the soup. They make the quality of the lives richer by expanding the creative possibilities of our lives.

May God bless you and your church. You have paid for the sins of others in this process.

Hillary supporters are going to find out that Democrats look for political behavior that is DISTINCT from Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and Ann Coulter. They reject “politics by character assassination”.

She used these “memory” linkages:
Rev Wright -> Farakahn – > Hamas -> 9/11
Ayres -> 9/11 -> “wish we could have done more”

That’s why Hillary will loose votes from this debate. Most people watch these debates to get a sense of the person’s character. The policy issues just leave them numb. Important to you and I maybe but most people don’t have the time to following the discussion… who do they believe? who do they trust?

It’s a chance to prove character.

Did George Bush EVER mention the Swiftboat slur in a debate with Kerry? No. Because he was coached that it would only cost him in the eyes of the voter to pull the conversation into a mud pit.

Hillary’s supporters are ALL ABOUT POLICY and they think Republican “stink bombs” are FAIR. That’s why she’s loosing because on issues of substance she should have won support but on issues of character she’s coming up short.

Democrats are becoming polarized around the issue of what the party stands for:

empathy or win-at-all-costs?

George Bush based his first “win” on compassionate conservatism: it worked!

In round 2 he was more considerate and respectful with John Kerry than Hillary was with Barack and that’s pretty hard for a lot of us to take.

But, it’s why she’s going to loose: it’s a character flaw.

If you don’t agree with me then you have an empathy deficit. I hope you have coverage for counseling because these next 90 days are going to drive you absolutely crazy. Seriously, check into it.

PS> I am not elite or superior. Just smarter than the average Hillary supporter. Deal with it. It’s called “Social Intelligence”. Look it up. It’s the number one attribute of successful people. They use empathy to get people to do what they want. They have empathy. Like the Dali Lama.

“I feel your pain” (bites lower lip). Bill could fake it.

Here’s the problem Hillary has with voters.

Bill Clinton would say “I feel your pain” (bites lower lip) and be believed. Hell, he could say “I did not have sex with that woman” and be believed. Faking sincerity was his most effective tool.

Hillary says “They are really hurting.” She’s smart enough to detect the pain but she cannot convey empathy that convinces the voter than she feels it too. She right but ineffective.

If she could just tap into that ability to connect on the basis of humanity that wants a leader with some heart: she’d turn it around and take it all the way.

But, it just may NOT be in her essential character to connect on that level… she did it ONCE just before New Hampshire when someone asked her “How are you holding up?” She connected to some real pain… hers and choked up a bit. She was sincere that “This is really hard.” Her numbers went up!

But, she hasn’t exposed many feelings since. And it’s a fatal flaw. As a politician she hasn’t been vetted with enough tough races to know what works. She’s learning on the job. Obama has connection down cold. He’s catching up with issues and other “less important aspects” of the job.

Would Obama rather be right or effective? Hillary would take “right” and just work harder on the effectiveness gap. She’s probably going to work herself into a hospital before she quits. I may join her. I’m exhausted by this process.

Did I mention that the color of her suit looked awful against “Red White and Blue?” It looked like a 1980’s sofa fabric. Sorry. Just an observation to go along with all my other opinions.

Am I right? or effective? (or ideally… both).

Words of Texas Senator Kirk Watson from http://www.kirkwatson.com/media/whats-new/2008/02/20/msnbc-and-me/

Had I not lost my mind, here are the accomplishments I would have mentioned:

* Senator Obama’s fight for universal children’s health care in Illinois.
* His success bringing Republicans and Democrats together (a huge selling point for me in general) on bills such as the one in Illinois requiring police interrogations and confessions to be videotaped.
* His leadership on ethics reform in Washington (the bill that lobbyists and special interests are complaining about right now has his name on it).
* His bill to make the federal budget far more transparent and accessible to Americans via the Internet – we could use that openness in Texas.
* And his vital work with Republicans to lock down nuclear weapons around the world.

But, what’s interesting about Obama is not these senatorial accomplishments, it’s the life path that got him there. You imply any moron can be elected to congress… but can any other “moron” get this far in the process to be elected? I think not. Many tried this year.

Obama didn’t have a parent in politics like Hillary, Romney or GWB. No head-start in the system. Everything he has accomplished was his own effort… Education, professional accomplishments and political career. He’s been working on this path for 45 years.

I’m amazed you discounted all evidence that this is a man of substance. It tells me more about you than it does about Obama. Look at what you value and consider what Obama would have to have doen to meet your standards… resolve conflicts in the middle east? Prevent the loan scandle? Prevented GWB from occupying Iraq? I can’t imagine. One man can only lead. Alone we all fall short. If Obama unifies the country and gives the young a reason to believe in the power of democracy then that will be his lasting legacy. You may stand on the sidelines and shake your head but you may at some point get the feeling that something good is happening this year. A change that matters.

rm rss.xml*
# wget http://static.flickrfan.org/ap/rss.xml
wget http://static.flickrfan.org/afp/rss.xml
cat rss.xml* | \
grep \<enclosure | \
sed 's/.*url\=\"//' | \
sed 's/\" type.*//' | \
sed 's/\/\/\//\/\//' > j2

for file in `cat j2`
do
  echo "File is: $file"
  wget -nc $file
done

I’m working on a computer database benchmark. The critical players on the team are named:

Bob, Amjad, Dhimant, Benoit, Vasu

One of the players has been consistently in the critical path and failed consistently to deliver a timely result. Often requiring going back to square one to reload the database.

The database is a Terabyte in size…

Bob and I are more alike than we are different. I’m just willing to put in more hours when I fuck up. I try NOT to fuck up. So, does Bob. He’s just not that good at planning ahead.

PS> One final note. Bob is a DBA. Computer Systems people and DBA’s never seem to get along. I can see why. 8 days into the effort and 95% of the time spent waiting for Ed to get the job done. If Ed ever reads this… I hope he doesn’t figure out that I changed his name to protect the intolerant.

I’m just waiting and venting. As you were…. gotta run, email update from Bob.