two awesome WRX videos

These are two super slick videos of Ken Block driving a WRX.

We Need Universal Health Care

I know that there are downsides to socialized medicine, (and please feel free to tell me what they are) but I want to write about the upsides, and maybe the sidesides.

From my uninsured, and non-expert opinion, I think that the U.S. having Universal Health Care is a good idea. The main reason is that we have 50,000,000 people who are uninsured right now. We live in the richest nation in the world, and yet 16% of our population can’t get the help they need when it comes to health problems. The United States pays the most for health care, more than any other country, yet on almost any scale you choose to measure, we rank last. Out of Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the USA, we rank last on quality care, access, efficiency, equity, and healthy lives.

I started getting interested in this subject when I got Michael Moore’s “Sicko” out from the library. Now I know what you’re thinking.

“That is a load of democratic socialist propaganda!”

Maybe. So I also watched this Frontline report that also tackles the issue of Universal Health Care with a more dispassionate, intelligent approach. T.R.Reid (Washington Post reporter) goes around to the second and third wealthiest nations, among others, and investigates their health care systems. He evaluates each system on how much it costs to the public, the effects on the insurance and drug companies, the level of care, and most telling of all, how many people in that country go bankrupt every year from medical bills. ( None, as opposed to 700,000 in the U.S.) He tries to take the best of each program and apply it to the U.S. One of the interesting points was that not all countries have total government owned hospitals. Japan and Germany have privately owned doctors offices, hospitals, and insurance companies. Hmm, maybe we can do this in America after all.

When most people hear “Universal Health Care,” they automatically think, “Total Government Control! Big Brother! Waiting months to see a doctor!” The reality is much less alarming. In fact, we already have government run health care in America. Just look at the care we provide our Veterans. Putting the scandal a few years ago aside, the network of VA hospitals offers some of the best care in the country. Don’t believe me? read this excerpt about the VA.

The Annals of Internal Medicine in 2004, published a a study that compared Veteran’s health facilities with commercial managed care systems in their treatment of diabetes patients. In seven out of seven measures of quality, the VA provided better care. A RAND Corporation study published in the same journal concluded that VA outperforms all other sectors of American health care in 294 measures of quality.

One of the big complaints that people have with government run health care, is that people have to wait a long time to be helped. Really? Cause when I took my Mom to the Emergency Room at a local hospital in NY with a severe cut to her forearm at 10:00 p.m., we had to wait until 3:30 a.m. for her to be taken care of. And it was not a bustling downtown ER with gunshot victims. I find it hard to imagine that we would have to wait more than five hours to be seen somewhere in Europe.

From what I’ve read, seen, heard from friends, and (gasp) in fact experienced myself, medical care overseas is prompt, professional, and cheap. When I traveled to Ireland, I got in infection (sparing details) that made my ears feel like I was fifty feet underwater. We went to a small clinic in a seaside village where I was seen immediately. I was a foreigner, and yet they saw me right away, proscribed medicine, and only charged me seven pounds ($15). If the situation were reversed, I’m sure that the sick Irishman would have to pay at least $150 for the appointment, that is, if they agreed to treat him in the first place without the consent of an American insurance company.

I’m going to post this now, but will be adding to this article as I learn more.

US Out of Iraqi cities tonight

I don’t know why I haven’t been keeping up on this. Oh I know…the “King of Pop” died. Leave it to our media to show nonstop coverage of Michael Jackson for days when our foreign policies and worldwide feeling for the US are about to change. Tonight, most US troops will be out of Iraqi cities. The citizens there are ecstatic, as I would be when a Foreign power relinquishes control over my country. I hope that we have trained them well enough that our time there won’t have been for nothing.

Spaceship putter of doom

Related to my previous post…

This is the putter I want. It looks like a spaceship, and being a sci-fi fan, I want it. It’s an Odyssey White Hot XG Teron. I put very well with it…in the store.

Golf is my current obsession

So I go through phases. Something comes along and I become infatuated with it for a few months, then it kind of fizzles out. Right now, it’s golf. I played a few times last year and had a good time. Mind you, my score is almost always terrible, but I have fun. I consistently get 39+ over par when I play 18. If my putting is good, my iron works stinks. If I can hit well with my irons, I choke off the tee.

I spend a considerable amount of time thinking about what I might do to be better next time, even if I only get out on the course once a month. For example, even though I am a beginner, and should learn how to get a consistent swing first, I am going to buy a used (but much newer than my Uncle’s) driver tomorrow. Whenever I use my current driver, I hit it badly. The few times that I’ve used my friends modern oversize driver, my shots are much more consistently good, or at least longer. I will then proceed to the local driving range and blast a bucket of balls all over the place. Worm burners that go 20 feet then stop. Massive hooks, wide slices, and hopefully some straight drives.

Because really, golf is all about hope. I hope I can do better next time. I hope my new club makes some noticable improvement in my game. I hope my wife will let me go golfing this weekend.

You want to live how long?

I want to explore the different methods available for life extension technology. Now, this post could be a pages-long research paper, or I could do what most bloggers do and make up half-remembered facts from Wikipedia. I will strive to strike a balance between these two extremes and present information in short but accurate form.

Why old school papers?

You may ask why I post my old school papers on my blog. Well, because I wrote them and I’m proud of my writing. Even if I wrote them when I was 17 and they’re about stories or books people haven’t read before. I was surprised that a piece I wrote about Jordan Baker in “The Great Gatsby” is one of my most popular posts. The popularity peaks around when finals are due, so I finally got the correlation. I now have a blurb about how plagiarizing is wrong at the top. Anyway, I figure that I spent a week or so researching a paper in high school, so I may as well share that bit of writing with others. If people want to copy it, that’s on them. I am flattered to be used as a source, but don’t condone cheating. One might argue that it’s similar to giving away guns while saying you’re against murder. The thing is, if I took my time to handcraft a beautiful weapon, I would want to share it. A gun can just as easily provide a family with food as kill someone, but the manufacturer shouldn’t be blamed for other people’s choices. I understand that this is a limited argument. A well written essay is usually written for a good reason, whereas assault rifles are made, not for hunting deer, but killing people. Cigarettes are another example of an item that is manufactured for a less than healthy purpose. This is a case where one might hold the maker to some standard of responsibility for their actions.

Wow that got off track. Anyway, enjoy my old essays. And remember, if you plagerize, you’re only cheating yourself.

A journey through time

Dan Mumford                                                                                                            3-1-04

Western Civ. 103                                                                            A Journey Through Time.

You watch with detached curiosity as the scientist is making his preparations. Amid the transistor coils and laser defragmenters, you make out a form huddled over a keyboard and hear a voice saying, “Ready?”  In 5…4…3…2… Zap!

Glasgow

Glasgow

By Dan Mumford

Dr. Karen Dhanda

3-29-04

Glasgow, Scotland is a city that has withstood the ravages of time, war, fire, epidemics, class struggle, and economic collapse to emerge as one of Britain’s premier cities in all respects. From its meager beginnings as a fishing village on the river Clyde, Glasgow used its position on the west coast of Scotland to trade with the American colonies and jumpstart its own industrial revolution.

To drink, or not to drink?

That is the question.

I have been straightedge for 13 years. That is: No drugs, alcohol, or promiscuous sex. But now I am questioning my beliefs. Did I even have any?

I am Christian and so you may think, “Oh, well you don’t drink because of your religious beliefs, like many other christians I know.” But I would say no. Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine, so he obviously supports drinking alcohol. Now, don’t misunderstand me, the bible says not to over-indulge, but it also doesn’t say no wine at all.

I was also heavily involved with the Hardcore Music scene of the late 90’s in Syracuse which was predominantly straightedge and vegan. I subscribed to those values easily and have since seen many of my friends “lose their edge” and drink. I was never vegan though, I just love meat too much. Mmmm steak.

So why now? I was having dinner with my wife and she wanted some wine that my godmother had given us as a housewarming gift. She seemed to enjoy it and asked if I wanted any. I (of course) said no, but I thought it was odd of her to ask. She’s known me for years, and that is one fact about me that has not changed. I just don’t drink alcohol. We even have a funny story from when we were in Germany. We were visiting some of Opa’s friends and they asked if I would like some wine. I said, “Nien danke, Ich bin anti-alcohol.” They just couldn’t comprehend that someone wouldn’t drink since that is a big part of the culture over there. So the wife said, “OK, I’ll just pour a little bit then.” It’s like that scene in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” with that aunt who is astounded that the guy doesn’t eat meat. “OK, I make lamb instead!”

So why do I not drink? Back in high school, I chose not to, to avoid binge drinking at parties and the casual sex that could result from said drinking. The Hardcore scene supported my choice and provided a strong sense of unity and belonging. “We are strong because we choose not to pollute our bodies and minds.” But part of me wonders that the real reason I don’t is that I have a semi-addictive personality and I’m scared I might turn out to be an alcoholic. Are you surprised? Have you seen me in one of my phases? Like the straight razors, or pirates, or martial arts, or…

I also think that, Well, I’ve been drug free all these years, it would be a shame to throw that away. Plus alcohol is just another thing for me to spend money on when we go out. Water is always cheaper than beer. (from the sips I had when I was 14, I remember not liking beer, or scotch, which is blasphemy from someone who identifies himself as Scottish)

Why do I WANT to drink? I suppose that I associate it with being grown up, having a glass of wine with supper. My cousin also brews his own beer and I always feel like I’m insulting him by not trying his creations, even though he knows that I don’t drink. There is also a huge amount of medical evidence that red wine is good for you, but on the other hand, I could just take Resveratrol supplements and get the same benifits. I also feel that I am somehow missing out on the pleasure of well made drinks. I certainly enjoy drinking a great many things. Coffee, tea, juice, fruit smoothies, etc. Conversly, there are so many styles of coffee and tea that I could be happy for years drinking the different varieties that just those two beverages have to offer.

So what should I do? I guess for now, I will continue in my sobriety until something changes. I don’t have a strong urge to drink and now that I started taking resveratrol, I don’t have anything to gain from the benefits of wine. One pill equals the amount of reveratrol in 200 glasses of wine, without the damage to your liver.

What do you think?

Ophelia compared between William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and “Sweet Prince, The Passion of Hamlet” By Douglas Brode

Dan Mumford        11-15-04

Ophelia compared between

William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and

“Sweet Prince, The Passion of Hamlet”

By Douglas Brode

Dr. Karen Beckman M.D. is a frustrating cog of a broken medical system

(bear with me…this is a venting post)

We went to go get my 1 year old son’s shots updated yesterday.

New Microsoft tech will be sweeeet!

one year old climber

My son just turned one and he is a prodigious climber. He is a beast of a baby too. He doesn’t even use his legs to climb up onto chairs. He just grabs both edges and pulls himself up using only his arms. It’s beginning to be a problem because he is so quick that if we don’t see him for 20 seconds, he will be up the stairs, climbing the toilet, and IN the sink banging on the mirror. I’m so glad that I keep my straight razors in a separate rack high up off the floor. It is becoming very tiring keeping up with him all day. He’s also starting to walk too so maybe that will tire him out just enough that we can catch our breath.

backyard vegetable garden (progression from grass to veggies)

So this is our backyard, inner-city garden. From Grass to greens. First we watched where the sun hit our yard so we could pick the best spot. We decided that 10×10 was big enough. My wife is cutting the border while baby watches. Cutting the sod was tough work. Wear gloves to avoid blisters. Shake out the chunks so you preserve as much soil as you can. You also save the worms this way and keep them in the garden. Making the fence was the hardest part. Even deciding on a design. Because we have a crawling/ walking baby, we needed something stronger than just wire. So we got cedar rails for their natural weatherproof-ness so when the baby teethes on them, he doesn’t get a mouthful of paint or varnish. Coating the bottoms of the posts in roof pitch was nasty. We also have groundhogs around, so the rabbit fence is good for keeping him out too. We buried it 4 inches below grade for that reason. We started the cold weather veggies early and used a roe-cover for them so that when May rolled around, we already had salads ready to eat. Now we have : lettuce, chives, carrots, beets, radishes, basil, tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, cayenne peppers, peas, cucumbers, and spinach.