Thursday, December 31, 2009
Last Sunset Of 2009
Winter weather often brings strange, sculptural clouds and dramatic sunsets. This is a pretty good atmospheric finale for the year:
Objectivist Round Up: Best of 2009
Rational Jenn is hosting the "Best of 2009" Objectivist Round Up, which asked Objectivist bloggers to come up with their favorite posts of the year.
This has been a somber year from a political and economic perspective, so I contributed my favorite humorous post, In Support Of Universal T-Shirt Coverage.
This has been a somber year from a political and economic perspective, so I contributed my favorite humorous post, In Support Of Universal T-Shirt Coverage.
Rocky Cliffs, Near Molas Pass CO
These imposing rock faces are near Molas Pass. I was almost surprised not to see ski tracks down the couloir on the left side, since I saw them all along Highway 550, on surfaces most people wouldn't think of skiing!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Examiner.com Review Of Avatar
I stumbled on this review of Avatar at Examiner.com. I don't necessarily endorse the author (or his misspellings of major character's names from Atlas Shrugged), but he seems on target in terms of the broad ideas involved, based on what I heard of the movie's ideology.
Note the John Galt video at the foot of the article. I'd never seen that, but it was also interesting.
My brother is one of the principals at fxguide.com, a site devoted to special effects, and he said I have to see it in the theatre for the 3D and the CGI work. I will go, with earplugs in hand (since theatres now show movies at a loud or even painful sound level). However, I also anticipate despising its message.
Note the John Galt video at the foot of the article. I'd never seen that, but it was also interesting.
My brother is one of the principals at fxguide.com, a site devoted to special effects, and he said I have to see it in the theatre for the 3D and the CGI work. I will go, with earplugs in hand (since theatres now show movies at a loud or even painful sound level). However, I also anticipate despising its message.
Review: Garmin Forerunner 405 HR
Recently my brother asked me what I thought about my Garmin Forerunner 405, and I did a quick impromptu review for him, which I decided to rework into this post. This is my Forerunner 405:
As you can see, it's a handsome watch, and Garmin developed a touch-sensitive bezel (the metal ring) for controlling the various menus of the device. It has a GPS receiver, and will record your path, speed, elevation and other GPS-derived data. I also have the heart rate monitor, so it will also record heart rate. I purchased it before summer 2009 so I could record my trail runs, especially in the high peaks where my cell phone GPS software would not work due to lack of cell phone signal.
My brother was interested in comparing this watch to the Forerunner 305, which can be purchased at a significant discount, and the 405, which still costs around $350 at the time of publication.
Although I do like my 405, and it has served my purposes fairly well, it's not perfect. Here's my assessment:
PROS
My main complaints with the device are related to the use of the buttons. They need a more reliable, firm feel, and the minimalism of the interface is not always practical. The difficulty of pressing the two buttons simultaneously is the most problematic, followed by the errant stop button and other problems. I should note that these problems do not prevent me from using the device, but make it less convenient, and occur a significant number of times, maybe 1/3 of the time.
Although some users have complained about the bezel, it has worked well enough for me. Colorado air is rather dry, so sweating is not that much of a problem here, and any malfunction due to sweaty hands is therefore a non-issue.
Comparing the 305 and 405, I would say that if you can live with the larger, blockier 305, you can save a lot of money now by buying that version. From what I understand, the capabilities are very similar (before you buy, I would read the manuals online to check for any particular feature you are concerned about). I wanted something that could pass for a watch (albeit a large one), and I liked the looks, so I bought the 405. In spite of the interface annoyances, I'm still pleased with my purchase.
As you can see, it's a handsome watch, and Garmin developed a touch-sensitive bezel (the metal ring) for controlling the various menus of the device. It has a GPS receiver, and will record your path, speed, elevation and other GPS-derived data. I also have the heart rate monitor, so it will also record heart rate. I purchased it before summer 2009 so I could record my trail runs, especially in the high peaks where my cell phone GPS software would not work due to lack of cell phone signal.
My brother was interested in comparing this watch to the Forerunner 305, which can be purchased at a significant discount, and the 405, which still costs around $350 at the time of publication.
Although I do like my 405, and it has served my purposes fairly well, it's not perfect. Here's my assessment:
PROS
- The touch bezel makes for a nice-looking watch.
- The bezel itself has worked as advertised.
- When it has a good signal lock, the track is very accurate. Occasionally the entire path is off by as much as 30 feet when overlaid on a satellite image, but I think this is due to the signal quality and the relative path recorded is incredibly accurate. It records very small deviations in my track, for example if I go around a different tree on the return trip. Spooky.
- The live display of pace, distance and elevation works well.
- I have the watch set to cycle automatically between several screens while running, and this works well too.
- The wireless data transfer works fine and is a nice convenience. I get home, and if I'm near the laptop it just transfers the data. For speed sometimes I'll take it off and put it near the computer.
- I have not used the heart rate monitor a lot, but when I do it seems to work properly. I even took it on one of my peak runs, and it was comfortable enough for a couple of hours.
- To lock and unlock the bezel you have to press both buttons at exactly the same time, and it's touchy and does not always work on the first try.
- Unlike Timex watches where you push one button for backlighting, on the 405 it can take several awkward steps depending on if you have the bezel locked and whether it's in sleep mode. If it's in sleep mode, you need to touch a button to bring it into normal mode. Then, if the bezel is locked, you need to press both buttons at the same time. To turn the backlight on, touch the bezel with two fingers, on opposite sides of the watch. Then, optionally press both buttons again if you want to re-lock the bezel.
- I have had two occasions on mountain runs where the GPS "freaked out" and placed me far off the actual trail (on part of my La Plata Peak run, it was off by over a mile both horizontally and vertically, i.e. the elevation read 450 ft when I was actually at 11,500 ft!), but it is possible that might have happened with any device. I have no way of knowing. Now on the peak runs I record with a backup device such as my Garmin handheld.
- Apparently the touch bezel does not work if you are really sweaty or otherwise wet. In Colorado I have never had this problem, but in the Midwest it might be a concern.
- Sometimes it needs a reset. Recently I had to do a master reset to default settings to get it to work.
- The live slope (i.e. the degrees up or down you are traveling) is pretty much useless (it often says I am ascending when descending, the slope is not accurate), but this does not really concern me. I mainly use elevation, pace and distance.
- The start/stop button is very easy to push accidentally if you have anything covering your wrist like a jacket. I have to be careful when adjusting gloves or sleeve.
- The stop/clear function at the end of a run is touchy and sometimes re-starts the timer instead of resetting to zero. I've probably cursed more about this than any other feature.
My main complaints with the device are related to the use of the buttons. They need a more reliable, firm feel, and the minimalism of the interface is not always practical. The difficulty of pressing the two buttons simultaneously is the most problematic, followed by the errant stop button and other problems. I should note that these problems do not prevent me from using the device, but make it less convenient, and occur a significant number of times, maybe 1/3 of the time.
Although some users have complained about the bezel, it has worked well enough for me. Colorado air is rather dry, so sweating is not that much of a problem here, and any malfunction due to sweaty hands is therefore a non-issue.
Comparing the 305 and 405, I would say that if you can live with the larger, blockier 305, you can save a lot of money now by buying that version. From what I understand, the capabilities are very similar (before you buy, I would read the manuals online to check for any particular feature you are concerned about). I wanted something that could pass for a watch (albeit a large one), and I liked the looks, so I bought the 405. In spite of the interface annoyances, I'm still pleased with my purchase.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Twilight Peak, San Juan Range
This view is available right from a scenic pull-off on highway 550 north of Durango, CO:
Monday, December 28, 2009
Trojan Horse Computer Joke
This is pretty clever. I almost breathed Coke Zero out my nose when I read it on my workplace bulletin board. I like the button choices. Hmmm... I think I'd choose "Burn".
Winter Shadows
Shadows encroaching on a snow-covered creek bed, San Juan mountains north of Durango, CO:
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Durango & Silverton Railroad
Here's a photo courtesy of my brother and his iPhone of the Durango & Silverton pulling into the station:
It's hard to tell from the photo, but there's an elf in a green suit and hat in the middle. The reason is that this is one of several Polar Express runs of the train, which takes kids and their families on a simulated voyage to the North Pole, complete with a visit from Santa.
And check out that carbon footprint!
Some Durango citizens don't like the soot and would like to convert the train (one of the last running steam engines) to a less-polluting technology. However, anyone living here or moving into Durango knows the train runs through town, and therefore agrees to living with it by virtue of choosing to locate in the downtown area.
I watched, mesmerized by the billowing smoke, as it pulled into the station; it's a sight that you just don't see very often in modern life. I hope the train stays the way it is, for as long as people want to come to see it.
It's hard to tell from the photo, but there's an elf in a green suit and hat in the middle. The reason is that this is one of several Polar Express runs of the train, which takes kids and their families on a simulated voyage to the North Pole, complete with a visit from Santa.
And check out that carbon footprint!
Some Durango citizens don't like the soot and would like to convert the train (one of the last running steam engines) to a less-polluting technology. However, anyone living here or moving into Durango knows the train runs through town, and therefore agrees to living with it by virtue of choosing to locate in the downtown area.
I watched, mesmerized by the billowing smoke, as it pulled into the station; it's a sight that you just don't see very often in modern life. I hope the train stays the way it is, for as long as people want to come to see it.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Benevolent Purgatory Ski Day :)
I may have missed the Objectivist Round Up deadline this week, where the theme was a benevolent universe, but skiing encourages a benevolent outlook, so I'll keep with the theme anyway :)
Wednesday I was at Purgatory Ski Area at Durango Mountain Resort. The name has changed over the years from Purgatory to Durango Mountain Resort and now Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort. I believe the idea is that it's more than just a ski area, and they didn't want to lose the name recognition that "Purgatory" had, since it was the name for many years. Regardless of what you call it, in the winter it's still a fun ski area with a beautiful setting in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.
Being accustomed to busy central Colorado resorts, I arrived early in the morning to beat the crowds. Here is the view from the edge of the base area plaza about one hour before the lifts opened:
The obvious question is: what crowds?
Even a couple of days before Christmas, and after 6" of snow the prior 24 hours, it was not the mob scene I had expected. Six inches isn't exactly a deep snow day, but since it hadn't snowed in eight days, I was grateful. Here is a view in the other direction, from the center of the base area plaza:
Luckily for the resort, the crowds increased as the opening hour approached, and they will certainly be larger after Christmas when everyone has arrived in town and completed their holiday preparations and gatherings.
Here is a view to the northeast, towards Engineer Mountain:
Below is a picture of my new K2 obSETHed skis on their first extended ski day. I've already gotten more comments on these skis than any other piece of gear I've ever owned. The psychedelic totem graphics, width (138/105/125 -- tip/middle/tail) and profile draw the attention of chair lift occupants and lifties alike, even though wide skis are common out west. By today's standards, these aren't even "wide"; they are everyday skis:
So far, they have been just plain fun. Even though they are 179 cm long, only about the middle 100 cm touches the snow because of the rocker in the tip and tail, so I've had no problem skiing moderately spaced bumps on pretty much any steepness of slope. They absorb the shock of landings on jumps, although this is a dubious virtue for someone who is almost 50 years old ;) I'll do a separate post about the skis once I've gotten a few more days on them.
Here is a view down the trail called Dead Spike, off chair number 5, in the afternoon after the snow had been skied on a bit:
This trail has good variety packed into one place, with rolling hills, groomed areas, and bumps off to the sides. The bumps are on slopes in the 25-40 degree range. The steeper ones had some rocks starting to show on the backs of the bumps, so I was careful or avoided them altogether.
Regarding the "benevolent universe" aspect of skiing...
Well, to start with, when you ski you trust your balance and physical well-being to a couple of tiny steel edges on strips of wood and plastic (i.e. skis or snowboard). You are assuming that these will hold fast, rather than give way and allow you to skid down the mountain on your backside, or worse. In this sense, you assume the world is predictable and basically good, rather than out to get you.
When skiing 3-dimensional terrain (which is my term for bumps, powder, and other irregular surfaces, as opposed to smooth groomed flats), you assume that as your skis move rapidly through the terrain, especially if they leave the ground, that you will end up on knowable surfaces and you'll be able to cope with whatever presents itself and all will end well. The Earth will not just suddenly become a bottomless void into which you will fall, and your legs will not turn to jelly spontaneously and cause catastrophic injury.
Furthermore, the mere act of deriving enjoyment from physical exercise amounts to cashing in on hours of work you put into learning the activity, and deriving enjoyment from it. This emotion represents the benevolence of our planet, for bestowing upon you your just reward. Life is definitely good on a ski day :)
Wednesday I was at Purgatory Ski Area at Durango Mountain Resort. The name has changed over the years from Purgatory to Durango Mountain Resort and now Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort. I believe the idea is that it's more than just a ski area, and they didn't want to lose the name recognition that "Purgatory" had, since it was the name for many years. Regardless of what you call it, in the winter it's still a fun ski area with a beautiful setting in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.
Being accustomed to busy central Colorado resorts, I arrived early in the morning to beat the crowds. Here is the view from the edge of the base area plaza about one hour before the lifts opened:
The obvious question is: what crowds?
Even a couple of days before Christmas, and after 6" of snow the prior 24 hours, it was not the mob scene I had expected. Six inches isn't exactly a deep snow day, but since it hadn't snowed in eight days, I was grateful. Here is a view in the other direction, from the center of the base area plaza:
Luckily for the resort, the crowds increased as the opening hour approached, and they will certainly be larger after Christmas when everyone has arrived in town and completed their holiday preparations and gatherings.
Here is a view to the northeast, towards Engineer Mountain:
Below is a picture of my new K2 obSETHed skis on their first extended ski day. I've already gotten more comments on these skis than any other piece of gear I've ever owned. The psychedelic totem graphics, width (138/105/125 -- tip/middle/tail) and profile draw the attention of chair lift occupants and lifties alike, even though wide skis are common out west. By today's standards, these aren't even "wide"; they are everyday skis:
So far, they have been just plain fun. Even though they are 179 cm long, only about the middle 100 cm touches the snow because of the rocker in the tip and tail, so I've had no problem skiing moderately spaced bumps on pretty much any steepness of slope. They absorb the shock of landings on jumps, although this is a dubious virtue for someone who is almost 50 years old ;) I'll do a separate post about the skis once I've gotten a few more days on them.
Here is a view down the trail called Dead Spike, off chair number 5, in the afternoon after the snow had been skied on a bit:
This trail has good variety packed into one place, with rolling hills, groomed areas, and bumps off to the sides. The bumps are on slopes in the 25-40 degree range. The steeper ones had some rocks starting to show on the backs of the bumps, so I was careful or avoided them altogether.
Regarding the "benevolent universe" aspect of skiing...
Well, to start with, when you ski you trust your balance and physical well-being to a couple of tiny steel edges on strips of wood and plastic (i.e. skis or snowboard). You are assuming that these will hold fast, rather than give way and allow you to skid down the mountain on your backside, or worse. In this sense, you assume the world is predictable and basically good, rather than out to get you.
When skiing 3-dimensional terrain (which is my term for bumps, powder, and other irregular surfaces, as opposed to smooth groomed flats), you assume that as your skis move rapidly through the terrain, especially if they leave the ground, that you will end up on knowable surfaces and you'll be able to cope with whatever presents itself and all will end well. The Earth will not just suddenly become a bottomless void into which you will fall, and your legs will not turn to jelly spontaneously and cause catastrophic injury.
Furthermore, the mere act of deriving enjoyment from physical exercise amounts to cashing in on hours of work you put into learning the activity, and deriving enjoyment from it. This emotion represents the benevolence of our planet, for bestowing upon you your just reward. Life is definitely good on a ski day :)
Merry Christmas Confetti Lights
I'll give you one guess as to what object this is an out-of-focus picture of. Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Bastards Passed It
By "bastards", of course, I mean Senate Democrats. As far as I'm concerned, the politeness of civil debate goes out the window when someone is trying to subject you to their bad ideas by means of government brute force.
In line with earlier votes, the sixty Democrats passed the Senate version of the health care bill by voting for cloture and thus preventing further debate. Republicans all voted against it. I don't pretend that all of those Republicans voted on proper principles, but their votes are the only thing standing between us and the increased enslavement of the health care industry.
Obama was quoted as saying:
which simply shows that Obama doesn't know what's important.
What is important is leaving humans free to act un-coerced. The bill is a giant leap forward for coercion of health care choices.
The bottom line is that these men and women have power, and they are not afraid to use it. They claim to be channeling the wishes of Americans, but their measures can only be implemented by force, against the will of Americans.
So much for choice.
The House and Senate versions of the bills now need to be merged. The White House appears to be aware that the Senate bill could not pass in the House. That fact is not cause for celebration, however, since this seems to be the result of the fact that Congress wants even more oppressive measures, such as the public option and the "so-called millionaire's tax". The Senate version is not radical enough. We can look forward to more back room deals brokered with our freedom and money.
Meanwhile, advocates of freedom need to be vocal and fight such measures* however possible. There is a chance, however small, that we can prevent the spirit of FDR from reaching out and imposing further destruction and burdens on America.
* After the holidays, that is ;)
In line with earlier votes, the sixty Democrats passed the Senate version of the health care bill by voting for cloture and thus preventing further debate. Republicans all voted against it. I don't pretend that all of those Republicans voted on proper principles, but their votes are the only thing standing between us and the increased enslavement of the health care industry.
Obama was quoted as saying:
If passed, this will be the most important piece of social legislation since the Social Security Act passed in the 1930s.
which simply shows that Obama doesn't know what's important.
What is important is leaving humans free to act un-coerced. The bill is a giant leap forward for coercion of health care choices.
The bottom line is that these men and women have power, and they are not afraid to use it. They claim to be channeling the wishes of Americans, but their measures can only be implemented by force, against the will of Americans.
So much for choice.
The House and Senate versions of the bills now need to be merged. The White House appears to be aware that the Senate bill could not pass in the House. That fact is not cause for celebration, however, since this seems to be the result of the fact that Congress wants even more oppressive measures, such as the public option and the "so-called millionaire's tax". The Senate version is not radical enough. We can look forward to more back room deals brokered with our freedom and money.
Meanwhile, advocates of freedom need to be vocal and fight such measures* however possible. There is a chance, however small, that we can prevent the spirit of FDR from reaching out and imposing further destruction and burdens on America.
* After the holidays, that is ;)
Pigeon Peak From Purgatory
I took this photo Wednesday from Purgatory Ski Area, and Pigeon Peak is on the left. As I mentioned last summer, I find this peak's name noteworthy and the peak imposing.
The more time I spend around the San Juans, the more impressive I find them to be.
The more time I spend around the San Juans, the more impressive I find them to be.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Mt. Princeton From Salida, CO
This perfect alignment of sights is visible from downtown Salida, where I stopped for lunch Saturday.
In the summer, the river is filled with kayaks, swimmers and people on inner tubes. There's a park behind me and a walkway along the river. A nice place to stop and enjoy the day.
In the summer, the river is filled with kayaks, swimmers and people on inner tubes. There's a park behind me and a walkway along the river. A nice place to stop and enjoy the day.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Bass Pro Shops in Denver, CO
Recently on my way home from work (sort of), I stopped at the huge Bass Pro store in Denver, CO, where I snapped this pic on my iPhone:
This is a small section of a cavernous two-story shop-a-ganza that has a cavernous nave not unlike a cathedral, and for those who camp, fish, hunt, and otherwise frolic outdoors is probably a place of worship. I understand, because I worship at REI.
The products lean heavily towards hunting and fishing, but range from food, clothing, gifts, and gear to an area of the floor dedicated entirely to ATVs. It's quite a sight.
It's also lavishly decorated with the trappings of fishing and hunting, namely huge fish tanks, rugged rocky dioramas and various animal victims (i.e. stuffed elk, deer, my nemesis the mountain lion, etc.). There's even a 75-foot (?) high mural of mountains with several mountain goats perched on ledges.
I've fished a bit in my lifetime, the rest of my immediate family fly fishes, and my sister's in-laws hunt. However, I get squeamish even killing a fish, so I've usually been content to leave the killin' stuff to others. Although recently I've thought of taking up fishing again for the fresh food (I’m not kidding), I found I enjoy running over streams more than fishing in them.
Ayn Rand had her New York skyscrapers; for me, it's bustling places of commerce that make me feel that all is well with the world. I have a soft spot for prosperous malls, fresh asphalt and clean new sidewalks. As I walked into this huge, cheery, brightly-lit building, I marveled at the power of will that it must take to create such a commercial enterprise.
When it comes to the end of the year, in addition to the enjoyment of getting together with family and taking time off for (extra) fun, it's the optimistic and energetic spirit of commerce that I like to celebrate. I'll miss the extra energy of the holiday shopping season once it's past.
This is a small section of a cavernous two-story shop-a-ganza that has a cavernous nave not unlike a cathedral, and for those who camp, fish, hunt, and otherwise frolic outdoors is probably a place of worship. I understand, because I worship at REI.
The products lean heavily towards hunting and fishing, but range from food, clothing, gifts, and gear to an area of the floor dedicated entirely to ATVs. It's quite a sight.
It's also lavishly decorated with the trappings of fishing and hunting, namely huge fish tanks, rugged rocky dioramas and various animal victims (i.e. stuffed elk, deer, my nemesis the mountain lion, etc.). There's even a 75-foot (?) high mural of mountains with several mountain goats perched on ledges.
I've fished a bit in my lifetime, the rest of my immediate family fly fishes, and my sister's in-laws hunt. However, I get squeamish even killing a fish, so I've usually been content to leave the killin' stuff to others. Although recently I've thought of taking up fishing again for the fresh food (I’m not kidding), I found I enjoy running over streams more than fishing in them.
Ayn Rand had her New York skyscrapers; for me, it's bustling places of commerce that make me feel that all is well with the world. I have a soft spot for prosperous malls, fresh asphalt and clean new sidewalks. As I walked into this huge, cheery, brightly-lit building, I marveled at the power of will that it must take to create such a commercial enterprise.
When it comes to the end of the year, in addition to the enjoyment of getting together with family and taking time off for (extra) fun, it's the optimistic and energetic spirit of commerce that I like to celebrate. I'll miss the extra energy of the holiday shopping season once it's past.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Grameen Bank
Today I was reminded -- by an online ad to contribute to a microfinance organization -- of a thought-provoking TV segment I once viewed on Grameen Bank.
Grameen provides very small loans to poor people around the world. I found the segment to be a great study in ingenuity, culture, the relative perception of wealth, and ultimately, the nature of raw commerce. I really enjoyed this story and was glad to be reminded of it. You can view the PBS story from 2001 here.
Among the things I found fascinating were:
P.S. - It also brings to mind the potentially destructive and restrictive power of government at the macroeconomic level. By all rights, such energetic people should be driving cars and living in air-conditioned homes, rather than eking out an existence from their dirt-floored shacks.
Grameen provides very small loans to poor people around the world. I found the segment to be a great study in ingenuity, culture, the relative perception of wealth, and ultimately, the nature of raw commerce. I really enjoyed this story and was glad to be reminded of it. You can view the PBS story from 2001 here.
Among the things I found fascinating were:
- The tiny amount of money (from a Western perspective) that can make the difference between poverty and comfort in the developing world.
- The fact that people of integrity and strong work ethic exist at all economic levels.
- The fact that many Grameen employees are locals who know the borrowers, and the various borrowers may know each other because they are from the same village or area. This introduces both pride and peer pressure as motivators to repay the loan. Compare that to the relatively anonymous experience of dealing with a large bank in an American city!
- The high repayment rate of the loans (reported to be 95%).
- The cultural difference between men and women in Bangladesh, and the fact that the Grameen customers in the video were women.
P.S. - It also brings to mind the potentially destructive and restrictive power of government at the macroeconomic level. By all rights, such energetic people should be driving cars and living in air-conditioned homes, rather than eking out an existence from their dirt-floored shacks.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Bubbly Sunset Clouds
The bubbles at the top of this photo were like mammatus clouds, only they consisted of empty air that was pushing down through the cloud layer, rather than water vapor.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Fools Are Going To Ruin Medical Care In This Country
I posted the following on the CNN.com web site, as a comment to their story Obama: Congress on verge of passing health care reform legislation.
The Obama administration and the Democrat-dominated legislatures have exceeded my worst nightmares. And we can probably look forward to a Republican backlash at some point, with its inevitable return to more of the feeding-trough mentality that precipitated the Democrats' sweep in the first place.
Do I sound bummed? I am. Our country is in a bad state right now.
What's the answer? Better metaphysics and epistemology, and therefore better... everything else.
The fools are going to ruin medical care in this country. Obama has no clue what type of society works or is morally proper for human life. You can't build a prosperous, morally sound country (or industry) on the principle of income redistribution and forcing policies, mandates and rationing on people. It is morally wrong and will be economically disastrous. It will slowly drag the health care industry to ever-decreasing lows.
And since the health care and insurance industries are already heavily regulated, how exactly does more regulation constitute reform? Every industry that is languishing on the verge of depression today is an industry that is heavily regulated.
True reform means free markets, not more of the interventionist poison that is already killing us.
The Obama administration and the Democrat-dominated legislatures have exceeded my worst nightmares. And we can probably look forward to a Republican backlash at some point, with its inevitable return to more of the feeding-trough mentality that precipitated the Democrats' sweep in the first place.
Do I sound bummed? I am. Our country is in a bad state right now.
What's the answer? Better metaphysics and epistemology, and therefore better... everything else.
Don't Leave It To Beaver
In the second of my two-part series related to wildlife next to my workplace, I offer as criminal evidence "Exhibit A":
Behind my building in suburban Arvada CO, next to I-76, a shopping mall, and various light manufacturing facilities, a beaver has made its watery home in a stopped-up drainage channel beside the highway.
Unfortunately for the beaver and our landscaping, it has done some "pruning" of birch trees that are as thick as a man's thigh. Let me tell you, I wouldn't want to get in the way of those teeth.
I tracked and spotted the offending rodent sans camera, otherwise I'd have a mug shot. In case you're wondering, beaver tracks are the ones with the huge tail prints in between the paws. You'll need to take my word that it was about the size of a Basset Hound... except with shorter legs.
Behind my building in suburban Arvada CO, next to I-76, a shopping mall, and various light manufacturing facilities, a beaver has made its watery home in a stopped-up drainage channel beside the highway.
Unfortunately for the beaver and our landscaping, it has done some "pruning" of birch trees that are as thick as a man's thigh. Let me tell you, I wouldn't want to get in the way of those teeth.
I tracked and spotted the offending rodent sans camera, otherwise I'd have a mug shot. In case you're wondering, beaver tracks are the ones with the huge tail prints in between the paws. You'll need to take my word that it was about the size of a Basset Hound... except with shorter legs.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Longs Peak From The Forest
This photo is of Longs Peak from a forest clearing in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was an unsettled July day; neither fully sunny nor fully overcast, but it still made for an interesting shot.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Photomicrography Competition Galleries
The NY Times has some interesting and colorful photos taken through microscopes in their LENS gallery blog. I like #2, it reminds me of Shrek :) I think the photographer in #8 sells work at Boulder/Denver-area arts and crafts fairs.
The LENS blog is filled with great photo sets.
The photos are a subset of those submitted to a Nikon photography contest. Here is the original Nikon gallery with even more photos. Wow!
The LENS blog is filled with great photo sets.
The photos are a subset of those submitted to a Nikon photography contest. Here is the original Nikon gallery with even more photos. Wow!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Robert Mayhew's Review Of Burns' Goddess of the Market
In the latest issue of The Objective Standard, Robert Mayhew provides a rather damning review of Jennifer Burns' book Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right.
I find this article interesting for a couple of reasons: Mayhew has experience writing on some of the same topics himself, as in his Ayn Rand and Song of Russia, and his analysis is done in terms of wide principles supported by particulars.
Whereas my main criticism of Burns was in her ignorance of certain aspects of Rand's philosophy, Mayhew distills wider underlying principles, such as determinism and a consequent lack of understanding of the basis of politics in ideas. He also criticizes her for poor choice in terms of focus, for example in dedicating more time to controversial subjects like the Branden affair rather than more explanation of ideas and their influence. As a consequence of these failings, his review is much more negative, but his criticisms are spot-on.
I think people have an interest in Rand's personal life, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that, or with writing about it. However, I agree with Mayhew's point, since the thrust of this biography is clearly to present Ayn Rand's influence on the Right.
I hope that Objectivist readers do not shun this book entirely as a result of negative reviews by Objectivists. Although it is influenced by non-Objectivist views, it is not a hatchet job, and it still has redeeming value due to the historical information and due to the enjoyment you can obtain by reading about someone you admire. I would rather see us read it, and be well-informed, and simply keep the existing criticisms in mind while doing so.
When I encountered the deterministic statements about her (e.g. Rand did such-and-such because of her childhood) I just did the mental equivalent of an eye-roll and read on. I'm finding the exact same tendency in Anne C. Heller's biography Ayn Rand and the World She Made, and I really don't see how this can be avoided given the intellectual climate today, and the bad ideas most people have absorbed from it. Unless you want to read books written only by Objectivists, you'll just need to filter it out.
I find this article interesting for a couple of reasons: Mayhew has experience writing on some of the same topics himself, as in his Ayn Rand and Song of Russia, and his analysis is done in terms of wide principles supported by particulars.
Whereas my main criticism of Burns was in her ignorance of certain aspects of Rand's philosophy, Mayhew distills wider underlying principles, such as determinism and a consequent lack of understanding of the basis of politics in ideas. He also criticizes her for poor choice in terms of focus, for example in dedicating more time to controversial subjects like the Branden affair rather than more explanation of ideas and their influence. As a consequence of these failings, his review is much more negative, but his criticisms are spot-on.
I think people have an interest in Rand's personal life, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that, or with writing about it. However, I agree with Mayhew's point, since the thrust of this biography is clearly to present Ayn Rand's influence on the Right.
I hope that Objectivist readers do not shun this book entirely as a result of negative reviews by Objectivists. Although it is influenced by non-Objectivist views, it is not a hatchet job, and it still has redeeming value due to the historical information and due to the enjoyment you can obtain by reading about someone you admire. I would rather see us read it, and be well-informed, and simply keep the existing criticisms in mind while doing so.
When I encountered the deterministic statements about her (e.g. Rand did such-and-such because of her childhood) I just did the mental equivalent of an eye-roll and read on. I'm finding the exact same tendency in Anne C. Heller's biography Ayn Rand and the World She Made, and I really don't see how this can be avoided given the intellectual climate today, and the bad ideas most people have absorbed from it. Unless you want to read books written only by Objectivists, you'll just need to filter it out.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Brrrrr 2.0
It's been stupid cold lately in the Denver area, and this is the coldest morning so far.
Yesterday morning my car felt like it was brittle and was going to shake apart on road bumps. My brake pedal was stuck at first. I'll be glad when nighttime temps are back up into the "balmy" teens. At least that way, the sun at midday seems warm.
Yesterday morning my car felt like it was brittle and was going to shake apart on road bumps. My brake pedal was stuck at first. I'll be glad when nighttime temps are back up into the "balmy" teens. At least that way, the sun at midday seems warm.
Climategate And Individual Rights
I don't say much about the science of climate change, largely because I am wary of many aspects of it, including the back and forth barrage of line charts, ice cores and weather model-related claims, the complexity of the science, and the oddly suspicious fact that nearly all liberals agree with it, and nearly all conservatives/freedom advocates don't. That does not in itself force a conclusion, but it makes me suspicious. Of course, it is more indicative of moral and political values than science.
I am also a child of a scientist, and have seen first-hand the attitude of scientists with regard to funding and results. I simply don't buy the thesis that climate scientists are tossing the match en masse simply because political policy encourages it.
However, what I am not hesitant to comment on is the morality and politics of the policy goals, and of the effect of government intrusion on a public debate.
Gus Van Horn links to an article by U.K. environmentalist George Monbiot, which is basically a spruced-up version of the childhood playground taunt "I know you are, but what am I?" In it, in reaction to the uproar over the CRU emails, Mr. Monbiot points out the cases in which private companies are alleged to have done more or less the same thing.
You see, that makes my blood boil. Why?
In the case of environmentalism funded by government money, you have loot (tax money) used to fund research that nobody has a choice about, which in turn is used to fuel a policy juggernaut that threatens to further violate our rights via environmental laws such as cap and trade. The recipients of those stolen funds (grants) are lying to us, the looted ones.
In the case of corporations, you have companies using private funds to make a case in the public arena so the same government won't violate their rights with ponderous environmental restrictions and penalties. It's self defense against something which by all rights they should not even have to fight.
There is no comparison between these two activities. The former is smugly wrong on principle, the latter is wrong under duress. For Monbiot to attempt to equate the two and attack the latter is revolting.
But this controversy sidesteps what I have always regarded as the crucial issue: that the science is moot, because environmentalists have no moral right to enact any of their policy recommendations. All of their policy proposals violate the individual right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To quote from my comment on Mr. Monbiot's article:
My original thoughts related to Climategate centered on the notion that public funding severs the link between a citizen's personal goals and their means to achieve it (their money). Valuation can only be originated by an individual who values, and is relevant only to that individual, therefore to abruptly, forcibly take money and use it for another purpose breaks that link and violates an essential principle of a proper human existence.
However, when I attempted to develop this train of thought into an essay, I found it to be more complex and mercurial than I originally thought, since it quickly spreads out into many areas of philosophy, including epistemology, ethics and politics.
I also find it to be very revealing that this crucial issue -- the role of rational purposeful action in life; the role of the mind -- is discussed so little. Count the number of thinkers in human history who have considered it to be important. Our culture has a long way to go before it has a healthy foundation upon which we can build a flourishing existence for humanity.
With regard to the idea itself, I am currently working my way through Professor Tara Smith's Moral Rights and Political Freedom, and hopefully will gain some insight, and maybe be able to produce something coherent from my germ of an idea, at a later date.
I am also a child of a scientist, and have seen first-hand the attitude of scientists with regard to funding and results. I simply don't buy the thesis that climate scientists are tossing the match en masse simply because political policy encourages it.
However, what I am not hesitant to comment on is the morality and politics of the policy goals, and of the effect of government intrusion on a public debate.
Gus Van Horn links to an article by U.K. environmentalist George Monbiot, which is basically a spruced-up version of the childhood playground taunt "I know you are, but what am I?" In it, in reaction to the uproar over the CRU emails, Mr. Monbiot points out the cases in which private companies are alleged to have done more or less the same thing.
You see, that makes my blood boil. Why?
In the case of environmentalism funded by government money, you have loot (tax money) used to fund research that nobody has a choice about, which in turn is used to fuel a policy juggernaut that threatens to further violate our rights via environmental laws such as cap and trade. The recipients of those stolen funds (grants) are lying to us, the looted ones.
In the case of corporations, you have companies using private funds to make a case in the public arena so the same government won't violate their rights with ponderous environmental restrictions and penalties. It's self defense against something which by all rights they should not even have to fight.
There is no comparison between these two activities. The former is smugly wrong on principle, the latter is wrong under duress. For Monbiot to attempt to equate the two and attack the latter is revolting.
But this controversy sidesteps what I have always regarded as the crucial issue: that the science is moot, because environmentalists have no moral right to enact any of their policy recommendations. All of their policy proposals violate the individual right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To quote from my comment on Mr. Monbiot's article:
If any progress is to be made by humanity, it will not be made by an enslaved, right-less populace that has its earthly income stripped from it for purposes unknown and unwanted. Regardless of what natural disasters may face us, only a free population can properly think, act, and therefore respond to them. Funding government science, and imposing onerous environmental laws, takes away this right to freedom.
Why do you think the West has to come to the aid of the Third World during disasters? Is it because the disasters are worse outside the West? No, it is because Third World governments oppress their citizens and leave them impoverished, underdeveloped, and ill-equipped to deal with calamities. Only freedom can unleash the power to deal with such difficulties. The global warming circus amounts to the ironic spectacle of humanity clamoring to shoot itself in the foot before a foot race.
My original thoughts related to Climategate centered on the notion that public funding severs the link between a citizen's personal goals and their means to achieve it (their money). Valuation can only be originated by an individual who values, and is relevant only to that individual, therefore to abruptly, forcibly take money and use it for another purpose breaks that link and violates an essential principle of a proper human existence.
However, when I attempted to develop this train of thought into an essay, I found it to be more complex and mercurial than I originally thought, since it quickly spreads out into many areas of philosophy, including epistemology, ethics and politics.
I also find it to be very revealing that this crucial issue -- the role of rational purposeful action in life; the role of the mind -- is discussed so little. Count the number of thinkers in human history who have considered it to be important. Our culture has a long way to go before it has a healthy foundation upon which we can build a flourishing existence for humanity.
With regard to the idea itself, I am currently working my way through Professor Tara Smith's Moral Rights and Political Freedom, and hopefully will gain some insight, and maybe be able to produce something coherent from my germ of an idea, at a later date.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Beaver Creek Ski Day And Birds of Prey Downhill
On Saturday I stopped by Beaver Creek to ski briefly, then watch the men's downhill at the Birds of Prey downhill course. It is a World Cup downhill race, and is attended by top skiers from around the world. It's the first time I've attended a live top-tier ski event.
I left my house around 6 AM to ensure that I would beat the crowds at the resort, as well as the ski traffic on the highway. It was a pleasant drive, relatively free of bad weekend ski drivers (imagine rush-hour tailgating, speeding and weaving, then put it all on slippery snowpack in the mountains). Here's a photo of Dillon Reservoir that I took before dawn, from the westbound scenic overlook on I-70:
There was just a touch of orange light on Mount Guyot (left) and I could see plumes of snow being whipped off the peak by high winds.
Because my primary objective was to watch the race, I decided to pony up the $33 (!) for the parking garage at the Beaver Creek base area. There's only one level and it was almost empty around 7:45 when I arrived. I wanted to be able to stow my gear in the car easily, and did not want to miss any of the race due to the logistics of getting back and forth to free parking via the shuttle bus.
Taken later in the day, here is a photo of a small section of the rugged-looking Gore Range to the north, which I saw as I was skiing before the race:
Below is the end-of day view down the valley to the Beaver Creek base area, which I also skied in the morning. Geographically it reminds me of Snowmass Village, which is at the head of a mountain valley. I've never skied at Snowmass, but I stayed there one summer when attempting to run/climb Castle Peak.
Although early in the day (before 11 AM) the surface was nicely groomed and easy to ski, because of the dearth of recent snow, by afternoon the surface was scraped down to smooth white linoleum. Every spot where you would have liked to skid or carve a turn (basically all steep areas and stopping points) was bulletproof hardpack, and I just skidded my way down the mountain from one pile of shaved snow to the next. It was somewhat harrowing. I can't imagine what it must have been like for beginners.
Of course, I don't exactly have race skis either, which are made for hard snow. Nonetheless, I'm taking my rather wide K2 obSETHeds for a tune this week at Alpine Base & Edge (I've tried other places, but the best tunes I've ever gotten are from Alpine). It did make me feel a little better that while watching the race, I noticed that even some of the race workers, some of whom were probably ex-racers and had carving skis, were sliding down the hill. In any case, we will be happy when more snow arrives in Colorado's mountains!
Access to the race was simple: either ski down Red Tail trail, or take a shuttle from the free parking at the bottom or the base area.
Since Beaver Creek is lobbying to host the 2015 alpine World Championships, they had this cool (heh) ice sculpture near the entrance to the finish stadium:
If you arrive at the stadium early, you can sit in the stands, and if you're skiing/riding there are racks for your gear. There is also a concessions area and a bar with a view of the finish line. Get your $13 brisket with 2 gourmet sides! Or $5 coffee! That's what I call top-tier pricing.
I didn't want to sit in the stands for an hour simply to have a seat, so I had to find somewhere else to watch from. I stowed my skis and hiked up along the course. My Garmont Endorphins' hiking soles came in very handy for grip on the snow as I ascended the hill, and so did the fact that they weigh about half as much as a pair of standard alpine boots. Here is the view down to the finish area (this is only a small portion of the entire course):
I realized that it's actually pretty difficult to gain a good vantage point on a hilly race course that's 2,500 feet high and 1.5 miles long. Those who are watching televised coverage have the advantage of excellent video quality and multiple cameras on course. There was a screen showing the broadcast, but it was only visible from the crowded finish area. What I wanted was the feel of the race, to hear the skis on the icy course and to see the competitors fly by at speed!
I also found that it was tough to capture athletes in motion. My camera does not have a really high speed mode, so the best I could to was to press the button at the right moment and hope that its roughly 1 shot per second speed would capture something good. In this photo, the racer is roughly 10 feet off the ground and 40 feet past the takeoff point:
And here is a shot of a competitor coming over the hill before the jump:
I also managed to capture some video. Even though I missed the landing, I got the jump at the beginning and the ending:
In terms of finish times, the U.S. just barely missed being in the top three, with Bode Miller placing 4th. The top three overall finishers were:
1. Carlo Janka, Switzerland, 1:43.49
2. Didier Cuche, Switzerland, 1:43.51
3. Aksel Lund Svindal, Norway, 1:43.53
The U.S. finishers were:
4. Bode Miller, Franconia, NH, 1:43.94
11. Andrew Weibrecht, Lake Placid, NY, 1:44.60
14. Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:44.83
25. Erik Fisher, Middleton, ID, 1:45.33
31. Steven Nyman, Sundance, UT, 1:45.71
41. Jeremy Transue, Hunter, NY, 1:46.65
After the downhill, I skied down from the top of the mountain and called it a day. Beaver Creek has some interesting shops, so I poked around for a while and then headed over to Edwards and the Gore Range Brewery to let the ski traffic hit the road and clear out. The Bookworm book store at Riverwalk in Edwards is nice and has great coffee (and the first refill is free). There's a bike nice path along the Eagle River also.
All in all a fun day, with some great new experiences.
I left my house around 6 AM to ensure that I would beat the crowds at the resort, as well as the ski traffic on the highway. It was a pleasant drive, relatively free of bad weekend ski drivers (imagine rush-hour tailgating, speeding and weaving, then put it all on slippery snowpack in the mountains). Here's a photo of Dillon Reservoir that I took before dawn, from the westbound scenic overlook on I-70:
There was just a touch of orange light on Mount Guyot (left) and I could see plumes of snow being whipped off the peak by high winds.
Because my primary objective was to watch the race, I decided to pony up the $33 (!) for the parking garage at the Beaver Creek base area. There's only one level and it was almost empty around 7:45 when I arrived. I wanted to be able to stow my gear in the car easily, and did not want to miss any of the race due to the logistics of getting back and forth to free parking via the shuttle bus.
Taken later in the day, here is a photo of a small section of the rugged-looking Gore Range to the north, which I saw as I was skiing before the race:
Below is the end-of day view down the valley to the Beaver Creek base area, which I also skied in the morning. Geographically it reminds me of Snowmass Village, which is at the head of a mountain valley. I've never skied at Snowmass, but I stayed there one summer when attempting to run/climb Castle Peak.
Although early in the day (before 11 AM) the surface was nicely groomed and easy to ski, because of the dearth of recent snow, by afternoon the surface was scraped down to smooth white linoleum. Every spot where you would have liked to skid or carve a turn (basically all steep areas and stopping points) was bulletproof hardpack, and I just skidded my way down the mountain from one pile of shaved snow to the next. It was somewhat harrowing. I can't imagine what it must have been like for beginners.
Of course, I don't exactly have race skis either, which are made for hard snow. Nonetheless, I'm taking my rather wide K2 obSETHeds for a tune this week at Alpine Base & Edge (I've tried other places, but the best tunes I've ever gotten are from Alpine). It did make me feel a little better that while watching the race, I noticed that even some of the race workers, some of whom were probably ex-racers and had carving skis, were sliding down the hill. In any case, we will be happy when more snow arrives in Colorado's mountains!
Access to the race was simple: either ski down Red Tail trail, or take a shuttle from the free parking at the bottom or the base area.
Since Beaver Creek is lobbying to host the 2015 alpine World Championships, they had this cool (heh) ice sculpture near the entrance to the finish stadium:
If you arrive at the stadium early, you can sit in the stands, and if you're skiing/riding there are racks for your gear. There is also a concessions area and a bar with a view of the finish line. Get your $13 brisket with 2 gourmet sides! Or $5 coffee! That's what I call top-tier pricing.
I didn't want to sit in the stands for an hour simply to have a seat, so I had to find somewhere else to watch from. I stowed my skis and hiked up along the course. My Garmont Endorphins' hiking soles came in very handy for grip on the snow as I ascended the hill, and so did the fact that they weigh about half as much as a pair of standard alpine boots. Here is the view down to the finish area (this is only a small portion of the entire course):
I realized that it's actually pretty difficult to gain a good vantage point on a hilly race course that's 2,500 feet high and 1.5 miles long. Those who are watching televised coverage have the advantage of excellent video quality and multiple cameras on course. There was a screen showing the broadcast, but it was only visible from the crowded finish area. What I wanted was the feel of the race, to hear the skis on the icy course and to see the competitors fly by at speed!
I also found that it was tough to capture athletes in motion. My camera does not have a really high speed mode, so the best I could to was to press the button at the right moment and hope that its roughly 1 shot per second speed would capture something good. In this photo, the racer is roughly 10 feet off the ground and 40 feet past the takeoff point:
And here is a shot of a competitor coming over the hill before the jump:
I also managed to capture some video. Even though I missed the landing, I got the jump at the beginning and the ending:
In terms of finish times, the U.S. just barely missed being in the top three, with Bode Miller placing 4th. The top three overall finishers were:
1. Carlo Janka, Switzerland, 1:43.49
2. Didier Cuche, Switzerland, 1:43.51
3. Aksel Lund Svindal, Norway, 1:43.53
The U.S. finishers were:
4. Bode Miller, Franconia, NH, 1:43.94
11. Andrew Weibrecht, Lake Placid, NY, 1:44.60
14. Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:44.83
25. Erik Fisher, Middleton, ID, 1:45.33
31. Steven Nyman, Sundance, UT, 1:45.71
41. Jeremy Transue, Hunter, NY, 1:46.65
After the downhill, I skied down from the top of the mountain and called it a day. Beaver Creek has some interesting shops, so I poked around for a while and then headed over to Edwards and the Gore Range Brewery to let the ski traffic hit the road and clear out. The Bookworm book store at Riverwalk in Edwards is nice and has great coffee (and the first refill is free). There's a bike nice path along the Eagle River also.
All in all a fun day, with some great new experiences.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Dr. John David Lewis on H.R. 3962
Here is another excellent summary of the legislature's abomination of a health care bill, by Dr. John David Lewis of Duke University. Some lowlights of the bill:
- It would be illegal not to have an approved plan. An individual who does not buy an approved plan will have 2.5% of their income taken. An employer who does not offer approved coverage will be penalized starting at 8%. All such money will be funneled into the Trust Fund, i.e. used to pay for those who obey.
- Merely catastrophic plans that do not meet with approval will be illegal.
- The government will ration care, for example by determining when it meets standards relating to being "excessive," when it will allow "readmission," and what is an "applicable condition."
- The government may enforce waiting lists for care in case of a budget shortfall.
- The bill will tax certain medical products, thus hurting markets for those products.
- The wealthy will be taxed more, simply because they have more.
- For publicly approved plans, the health care Commissioner will be doing all negotiating of health care offerings, not you or your employer.
I have not considered the establishment of (1) the "Health Choices Commissioner" and the associated bureaucracy; (2) the "Health Insurance Exchange," (a government-mandated insurance scheme to control all insurance activity); (3) the so-called "Public Health Insurance Option," or similar provisions. I have not analyzed the more than one hundred new committees, boards, commissions, and bureaucratic institutions that it establishes (but I have listed them below under the section titled Special Note).
If Americans do not defeat this enormous violation of our individual rights, we will be paying for years to come.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Job Market Shows Big Improvement
This is great news. No thanks to the "hard work" of politicians, who are always busy rewarding failure and creating more of it.
Company Health Plan: What Free Market?
As I sat in my company's 2010 health plan meeting today, I was struck by the magnitude of government intrusiveness like never before. Nothing significant has changed in the plans themselves; it's because we stand on the brink of possibly adopting some truly idiotic federal health care laws, and due to the discussions surrounding these, I've become acutely sensitive to government influences in medicine. Which is a good thing. But I must say it's painful.
As I listened to the details, the overbearing control of government was everywhere, shaping the plans Americans buy, what can and can't be offered, and basically leaving a little cage of freedom within which to maneuver, to make us think we still have free market choices.
The phrase that kept coming to mind was: "What free market?"
My thoughts:
I really hope we can defeat this health "reform" bill. That would at least show we have some sense left.
As I listened to the details, the overbearing control of government was everywhere, shaping the plans Americans buy, what can and can't be offered, and basically leaving a little cage of freedom within which to maneuver, to make us think we still have free market choices.
The phrase that kept coming to mind was: "What free market?"
My thoughts:
- There are a multitude of rules about how much you can save into your health savings account, what it can be used for, minimums, maximums, and so on.
- There are the reminders of state control of the insurance market, such as the constant differences between geographical regions, and the fact that your Blue Cross division is named after a state.
- There exist an absurd number of different savings plans, such as HSA, FSA, MSA, yadda yadda yadda. What about just saving your money in an account of your choice? Tax breaks are great, but jeez!
- Of course you have to keep receipts of how you spent your money that you dared to spend on medical care tax-free, to prove that you didn't cheat the government out of stealing your money.
- There were constant references to the HSA rules that must be followed by providers, suggesting another set of laws guiding them, which consumers don't see.
- The thought that this web of rules and exceptions and breaks is only the beginning, if the awful Democratic health plan passes. It will simply crush the life out of the market, with its mandates, government competition, health czar, and so on.
- The shock of wondering how any sane person can possibly think that any of this represents markets in action.
I really hope we can defeat this health "reform" bill. That would at least show we have some sense left.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Brrrrr!
A Canadian cold front has swept into Colorado with some snow and unusually cold temps. My local figures:
Temperatures up in Leadville, CO at 10,000 feet are a bit cooler:
At those temps, things stop working. Like cars. I grew up with arctic cold fronts, but never got used to them.
Temperatures up in Leadville, CO at 10,000 feet are a bit cooler:
At those temps, things stop working. Like cars. I grew up with arctic cold fronts, but never got used to them.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
ARC: Obama’s Flawed Prescription for Health Care
I like this concise criticism of Democratic health care policy by Jeff Scialabba of the Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights. It's very effective at pointing out in a short article how the solutions proposed by Obama and the Democrats are actually the cause of our health care predicament, not the proper solution.
Overexposed Image: Number 56
I accidentally took, and overexposed, this shot last Thursday. The little crosses almost look like a stylized formation of airplanes.
It's the metal floor of the gondola at Keystone with a shadow cast from the number "56" on the gondola's window. I thought it made for an interesting effect.
It's the metal floor of the gondola at Keystone with a shadow cast from the number "56" on the gondola's window. I thought it made for an interesting effect.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Keystone Ski And Dillon Run Day
Here is a quick follow-up post on my ski day at Keystone, CO. This was my first day at this ski area this season, and was short but fun.
I was surprised to find they made improvements to the River Run base area: the gondola is now larger and closer to the village, and the lodge on the right as you face the hill has been rebuilt/remodeled. I like the changes.
Here is the view from the top deck of the lodge on Dercum Mountain (taken later after skiing):
That is Mount Guyot (left) and Bald Mountain in the back. It was only a short ski day, because Thanksgiving is one of the most crowded days of the season, especially with the limited terrain available. When the crowds became too much, I rode the gondola down:
I changed clothes and then took the gondola back up for the photos. I walked a little farther over to see how the mountain was shaping up with snow, and captured this image:
The next hill over is North Peak, and then past that (out of sight) is The Outback, which is where I usually head during mid season. There's some fun bowl and tree skiing to be had. Independence Bowl can be hiked on foot or you can take a snowcat for $5.
Then I stopped for Mexican food at Parrot Eyes, which was good, then grabbed a coffee at Inxpot. Although I regularly buy the excellent Starbucks Sumatra for brewing at home, when I buy brewed coffee on the run I tend to search out local shops that have good beans, simply because I don't care for Starbucks' Pike Place and some of the local roasters are very good. For example, Vail Mountain and Silver Canyon. Good local cafes usually seem to have interesting regional varieties of coffee already brewed.
It was such a beautiful sunny day that I went for a run later in Dillon. I parked near the Dillon marina and ran towards the southeast so I'd have sunshine the whole way. Even though it was only 45-50 degrees and breezy, the sun on the sand and the banks of the reservoir created a warming effect, and it almost felt like an evening run in California. The run was about 5 miles and here's the GPS track:
After the run, I was rewarded with the sighting of this cool black fox.
I was surprised to find they made improvements to the River Run base area: the gondola is now larger and closer to the village, and the lodge on the right as you face the hill has been rebuilt/remodeled. I like the changes.
Here is the view from the top deck of the lodge on Dercum Mountain (taken later after skiing):
That is Mount Guyot (left) and Bald Mountain in the back. It was only a short ski day, because Thanksgiving is one of the most crowded days of the season, especially with the limited terrain available. When the crowds became too much, I rode the gondola down:
I changed clothes and then took the gondola back up for the photos. I walked a little farther over to see how the mountain was shaping up with snow, and captured this image:
The next hill over is North Peak, and then past that (out of sight) is The Outback, which is where I usually head during mid season. There's some fun bowl and tree skiing to be had. Independence Bowl can be hiked on foot or you can take a snowcat for $5.
Then I stopped for Mexican food at Parrot Eyes, which was good, then grabbed a coffee at Inxpot. Although I regularly buy the excellent Starbucks Sumatra for brewing at home, when I buy brewed coffee on the run I tend to search out local shops that have good beans, simply because I don't care for Starbucks' Pike Place and some of the local roasters are very good. For example, Vail Mountain and Silver Canyon. Good local cafes usually seem to have interesting regional varieties of coffee already brewed.
It was such a beautiful sunny day that I went for a run later in Dillon. I parked near the Dillon marina and ran towards the southeast so I'd have sunshine the whole way. Even though it was only 45-50 degrees and breezy, the sun on the sand and the banks of the reservoir created a warming effect, and it almost felt like an evening run in California. The run was about 5 miles and here's the GPS track:
After the run, I was rewarded with the sighting of this cool black fox.
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