Posted at 05:09 PM in Current Affairs, Science, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I ran across a couple of good websites this morning that I thought I'd share. With all the debate about health care in this country, there may be a way to greatly reduce health care costs without major changes in the current structure of our health care system. All we have to do is convince 300 million people to eat healthy and exercise. Problem solved, heah?
In reality, there's not a snowflakes chance in hell that's ever going to happen is there? All we can do is practice these longevity habits for ourselves and hope the rest of the country enjoys the short unhealthy lives they have.
The first is Blue Zones. Researchers have identified certain areas of the world where people live unusually long lives. None of these areas seem to have a genetic advantage over the rest of us. They all have certain habits in common such as active lifestyles, healthy diets and close community relations. It's not about fad diets or "As Seen on TV" exercise gimmick thingies. It is a range of lifestyle habits. And, it all sounds like a happy life.
The second became one of my favorite sites of all time. Real Age takes information you provide and estimates what your biological age is separate from your calendar age. I'll be honest and admit it became my fave because it said I am only 45 years old! Anyone out there who is my calendar age that can beat that? Of course, some of the things I enjoy the most are things that are good for longevity: running (25+ miles a week), outdoor activities (fishing, gardening) and watching my diet (cooking healthy meals). My father lived to 86 and my mother is about to turn 94. They both stayed active all their lives. I'm working on beating that.
Posted at 11:49 AM in Current Affairs, Family | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The debate over Bush administration approval of terrorist suspects has really heated up the last few days. While there is much debate if water boarding is torture, surely no reasonable person could imagine water boarding a person 188 times is not torture? It was used by the Nazis and Imperial Japanese in WW2. It has been used by the US military in the past. During the Vietnam war and after the Spanish-American war, soldiers were court-martialed and one general was dismissed.
A lot of people seem to think that the ends justify the means. I suppose the Nazis and Vietnamese believe this, too. Is this really the company we wish to keep? Do we want to be remembered by history as believers in a technique used by criminal regimes? I hope not. I hope we take the high road as we have in the past.
Posted at 09:35 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Wealth redistribution is a natural agent within any economic system.
Socialists with a chokehold on an economy equalize everyone by making
them all equally poor. Unbridled capitalists let unbridled greed
redistribute the wealth upward. This is what has happened over the last
10 years or so. $600 billion a year has moved upward from the lowest
80% of Americans to the upper 1% of Americans. Among free developed
nations, we now have the richest rich, the poorest poor and the
greatest disparity in wealth between the rich and poor. How long can a
democratic society remain capitalist if a majority of that nations'
citizens live to serve the desires of a tiny minority? We can set
reasonable controls on our economy and our tax system, or we can go the
way of past nations that let the few abuse the many.
Our recent economic troubles have seen a majority of our elected representatives socialize a portion of our economy. Today, profit is capitalized to those in power while risk and loss is socialized to the taxpayer. The U.S. government now has an equity position in nine of the largest banks in America. They have guaranteed that any loss by those banks will be borne by the taxpayer. At the same time, those that lead those establishments remain in a position to reap significant gains should their (taxpayer backed) risks pan out. And some tax proposals call for great tax cuts for those of greatest means. It would seem that the man in the private jet pays too much while the man that prays his 20 year old car gets him to work one more day pays too little.
Posted at 11:49 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
This is a paraphrase of the Friday Message I sent out to my online students today:
I've been thinking some more since I completed the Tyler Half last Saturday. I was thinking while I was running (really helps with the pain) about challenging oneself. I pushed myself academically for several years to earn a Ph.D. I've pushed myself physically to run a couple of half marathons and one marathon. There is a great deal of satisfaction that goes with setting a demanding goal and achieving it. I took almost 2 years to work myself up to the half marathon. Now, think about your goals. Most of you have set a goal for yourself that requires you to take this course and several others. Good for you. Always reach as high as you can. Some of you are capable of a great deal more. I've talked to students over the years who've had doubts about their abilities and those doubts kept them from achieving their potential in life. Take my word for it, the world is just full of people who will happily sow doubts on your behalf. Don't doubt yourself - work hard and go for the highest goal you can, whether that be mental or physical. With effort and time, you'll be surprised at just what you are truly capable of.
Posted at 11:43 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I found this on The Bayou blog and just couldn't pass it up. Some people just forget so fast.
Here is your Hurricane Ike quote of the day: a double-take of a
statement issued by our own Gov. Perry. Now we like the good Governor,
but this just proves to us that he is most assuredly not a student of
history.
Yesterday, while briefing reporters, he had this to say:
Is that so, Governor?"I have asked the President and the administration to just treat us as fairly as they treated Louisiana during Katrina," the governor said during his press conference. Perry then added, 'Texans will take care of the rest.'"
Posted by GATOR at 4:39 AM
Posted at 09:20 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: governor perry, hurricane ike, ike, politics, rick perry, texas governor
Just like Bush/Cheney and Nixon -- stonewall any investigation. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/16/palin.investigation/index.html
Posted at 08:06 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: liar, lies, mccain, palin, politics, presidential campaign, republican, stonewall
I have lost all respect for John McCain. I used to admire the man for his service and for many of the stands he has taken in the Senate. He was my commanding officer in 1978 and sailors looked up to him. But, recently he has hired on some of the same people to run his campaign that ran George Bush's campaign in '04. We know how many lies they spread then. Winning was and is everything. How you get there apparently is unimportant. Here's just a few of the lies he's been telling lately.
1. Said Palen killed the "Bridge to Nowhere"
-Congress killed the bridge. Palen turned against it after first supporting it. The treasury is still waiting for its $100 million back.
2. Said Palen never asked for earmarks.
-She sought over $200 million in pork this year alone. Also, as mayor hired a Washington lobbyist and obtained $11.9 million.
3. Said Obama would raise everyone's taxes. Independent groups have determined Obama's plan would cut taxes on 80% of Americans. Only the very rich would gain more under McCain.
4. Claimed Obama was aiming at Palen when he talked of "putting lipstick on a pig". It's a phrase McCain himself has often used.
5. Claimed Obama had called for "comprehensive sex education for kindergartners". Just a flat plain out and out lie.
6. Has run ads stating that Obama has a history of raising taxes. Not so.
7. Says Obama's health plan would put beaurocrats between you and your doctor. Wouldn't effect those with health insurance now. Unfortunately it wouldn't remove the bean counter that currently exists between you and your doctor.
8. Claims the U.S. sends $700 billion to countries that "don't like us" for oil. The number is $536 billion and over 1/3 goes to Canada, Mexico and Britain.
9.Claims he has never asked for a single earmark. What about the center named after William Renquist at the University of Arizona for $10 million or $14.3 million to expand Luke Air Force Base?
10. Has opposed, uh, supported, uh, opposed privatizing SS; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyBwMy27Aoc
11.Claimed Obama never visited troops in the hospital and cancelled a visit because he couldn't take cameras. That he played basketball instead. By that time, Obama had visited wounded troops more than twice and didn't take cameras. The time referred to, Obama visited with active duty troops. Here's the true story and McCain himself didn't visit those same troups months earlier in exactly the same circumstances: http://arizona.typepad.com/blog/2008/07/mccain-lies-usi.html
12. Claims he has always voted to support troops. Has voted more than 10 times against active duty personel and veterans. Opposed an improved GI bill.
13. Claims he has sent lobbyists packing. Truth is he has over 158 lobbyists working for his campaign.
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2224950/33398756
14. Has said he'll support wind and other renewables. His energy plan has no money for these and he has repeatedly voted against them in the past.
15. Claims Palen sold the Alaskan jet on Ebay for a profit. The deal on Ebay, which would have lost $500,000, fell through and the jet was sold privately for a bigger loss.
16. Cheated on his first wife Carol with several different women. Dated Cindy for 9 months while living with his wife. Lied about his age to his new girlfriend Cindy.
17. Oh Hell! I just hit the mother lode of McCain lies: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/3/0717/55880/710/545421
16. Said Obama opposes loan guarantees to Detroit auto companies when Obama says he does support these.
17. Palin has said she traveled and visited troops in Ireland, Germany, Kuwait and Iraq last year after she got a passport for the first time. She didn't enter Iraq and she only stopped in Ireland for fuel. She didn't visit anyone: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26690739/
Posted at 08:25 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
He may be a has-been for a prime minister, but looks like he still has a future as a chef:
Posted at 06:58 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
After hearing about McCain's pick for VP candidate, I couldn't stop laughing! How many politicians have you heard list PTA president as a qualifier for political office? I'm a former Cub Scout Cubmaster. So, I guess I should've offered myself up for VP.
Guess this answers the questions Republicans have been pushing about judgement and experience!!!!
Posted at 05:00 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)