INTERESTING: Level the healthcare insurance playing field

Saturday, September 22, 2007

http://www.smartmoney.com/invisiblehand/index.cfm?story=20070912&hpadref=1&pgnum=2

The Invisible Hand
Retired Doctor Devises Plan to Cure Health Care
By Igor Greenwald |Igor Greenwald Archive |Published: September 12, 2007

***Begin Quote***

Fogoros serves up something like a layer cake: at the bottom, a sizable self-financed health savings account (with the government subsidizing the contribution on a sliding scale for the poor). Any money that’s not used up could be saved toward retirement or allocated toward optional insurance.

Those who’ve exhausted their health account would be entitled to a share of the rationed health-care pool. Treatments would be covered or not based on a cost-benefit analysis treating each human being as equally valuable but seeking to equalize the opportunities for a healthy life over time. So a quadriplegic’s life would be deemed no less valuable than anyone else’s, but at the same time young patients would get some preference over the old who’ve already lived it up. Patients with greater odds of being helped would also gain priority. This sounds like common sense, even if it’s common sense we would prefer not to exercise at the moment.

Beyond rationed care, the rich would remain free to bankroll the many fanciful treatment alternatives, doubling as guinea pigs for the rationed system that would look to adopt the most cost-effective advances. Fogoros understands that the public debates about what to pay for could get quite awkward, and the system, any system, can and will be gamed. But he’s right to argue that this will still improve on the mess we’ve got.

***End Quote***

At the very least, it would seem that we could end the distortion from the WW2 Wage and Price controls. At that time, since wages were frozen, businesses were allowed to give “benefits” that didn’t count towards the “controls”. That’s where we got into the whole insurance mess. We allowed the gooferment to put us into a meme that allows businesses to deduct healthcare expense but individuals are not. At the very least, we should level the playing field. My preference would be to get the businesses out of involvement with my healthcare. Having been in my own business, I was allowed to deduct my healthcare insurance cost. Love it. I think when the marketplace “figures it out”, we will become a nation of contractors. Cheaper for businesses and better for individuals.

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Posted by reinkefj

PRODUCTIVITY: Enough means having

Friday, September 21, 2007

http://zenhabits.net/2007/09/key-question-how-much-is-enough

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Enough means having enough to live, and enough to be happy, and enough to thrive.

***End Quote***

When will I have “enough”?

A very tough question. Especially when the future is by definition “uncertain”.

This site always seems to challenge my thinking.

I call this a “productivity” tip because one must realize diminishing returns.

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Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Linux, portable apps, and local data with remote backup

Friday, September 21, 2007

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/microsoft_10_reasons_against_google_apps.php

Microsoft Issues 10 Reasons Why Enterprises Shouldn’t Use Google Apps
Written by Richard MacManus / September 10, 2007

***Begin Quote***

Up till now, Microsoft has been very quiet about the nascent Web Office threat from Google. But today, in response to the news that IT systems consultancy CapGemini has partnered with Google to sell Google Apps Premier Edition (GAPE) to enterprises, Microsoft issued an email listing 10 “top questions that enterprises should ask when considering the switch to GAPE.” The questions read more like reasons why enterprises shouldn’t choose Google Apps. This list was first published by Mary Jo Foley, who says it was an unsolicited email from a Microsoft “corporate spokesperson”.

*** and ***

“2. Google has a history of releasing incomplete products, calling them beta software, and issuing updates on a “known only to Google” schedule – this flies in the face of what enterprises want and need in their technology partners – what is Google doing that indicates they are in lock step with customer needs?

*** and ***

“7. Enterprise companies have to constantly think about government regulations and standards – while Google can store a lot of data for enterprises on Google servers, there is no easy to use, automated way for enterprises to regularly delete data, issue a legal hold for specific docs or bring copies into the corp. What happens if a company needs to respond to government regulations bodies? Google touts 99.9% uptime for their apps but what few people realize that promise is for Gmail only. Equally alarming is the definition Google has for “downtime” – ten consecutive minutes of downtime. What happens if throughout the day Google is down 7 minutes each hour? What does 7 minutes each hour for a full work day that cost an enterprise?

*** and ***

What do you make of Microsoft’s response? It certainly brings up some valid criticisms of Google Apps and Web Office, but then Google isn’t claiming their product is a replacement of MS Office. Their stance is that it’s a complement – and so in that respect this list by a Microsoft spokesperson is probably an over-reaction. It looks like someone in Redmond hit the panic button a bit too early.

***End Quote***

I think Microsoft is right to be afraid.

What Google Apps does do is to bring to the fore the whole discussion of where does the computing load and data store properly reside. Microsoft is the champion of fat client (some would say obese) and local data store. Google is the champion of thin client and remote data store.

To Microsoft, I say “you’re too expensive in several dimensions”. To Google, I say “and what do I do when I am off network or you decide to do something different”. I think the right answer is a blend.

Linux, portable apps, and local data with remote backup.

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Posted by reinkefj

LUGGABLE: Power block omission

Friday, September 21, 2007

I went on vacation and left the power block at home. Argh! I’ll be filling in the details next week. But, DELL screwed me. Long story. Like a fish with a hook in the gill, I wriggled, wrangled, and tried all sorts of ideas. Bottom line: I’ve been off the air since Saturday and will continue to be off the air until Sunday after noon. Long story. So if you are looking for me, or emailed me, I’ll catch up with you asap.

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Posted by reinkefj

RANT:Tennis ball as secret storage

Thursday, September 20, 2007

http://www.diylife.com/2007/07/09/diy-tennis-balls-little-yellow-useful/

*** begin quote ***

8. Secret storage – Looking for a place to stash that million dollar microchip while you’re at the gym? Slit a tennis ball and stick it inside! Works for anything that’s valuable (or not) and small enough to stick inside a tennis ball via a tiny slit.

*** end quote ***

Interesting for putting your BOB kit in?

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Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Donate the gift of life

Thursday, September 20, 2007

http://www.impactlab.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13031

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Katie McGuire of the American Red Cross said the growing list of restrictions has created extra challenges in recruiting volunteers. This summer, the organization raffled American Idol concert tickets and collaborated with sports teams in attempts to attract younger donors, particularly as usually avid baby-boomer donors slip into poor health.

***End Quote***

Ahh, like my prior discussions of “spare parts”, it seems “sinful” to not give the gift of life.

Perhaps, the American Red Cross could think of ways to make it “fun” and appeal to everyone’s innate pride and generosity. It would be nice if it was easy to keep score. In my time on the planet, I know I’ve given more than gallon. I always tell my favorite college story of the good Brother who encouraged me to give blood for the first time with the exhortation, “you’re probably not too stupid to bleed right”. I would say “don’t take your spare parts with you”. I carry and organ donation card and have told Frau Reinke and anyone who would listen that “spare parts” should be recycled. My only concern with all methods of remains disposal is that we get the spare parts that others may need to them.

Like giving blood, there is no simpler act of kindness to another human being that to donate.

Now it is true, I’d like to see a free market in body parts, fluids, and everything. But that’s the Libertarian in me, trying to address the shortage of organs for transplants. I know that if there was a marketplace, then we would have ZERO shortages. The market would always clear. Paying money to bury or burn a perfectly useful object, to me, seems to be the height of selfishness. It can’t be used by its owner anymore, it has no substitute, and it’s going to spoil. So fill out your organ donation card and give blood. I assure you it won’t hurt a bit. Alright maybe a little bit, but you’re an adult. And they’ll give you a lollypop. And Kool sticker to wear.

And when you run in to that good Brother at Saint Peter’s check in desk, (he’ll be on staff there because he was great at recording all the minuses and the occasional rare plus), you can tell him that you weren’t too stupid to “bleed” or “donate an organ” before you left.

And if you don’t believe the heaven / hell myths, how about “karma”?

And if you believe in nothing, what if you’re wrong? Even BlackJack players sometimes take out insurance.

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Posted by reinkefj

JOBSEARCH: “Get Noticed First” is cheap enough to be considered.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

http://www.getnoticedfirst.com/

Get Noticed First

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What is Get Noticed First?

Get Noticed First helps you move along your job search by providing you with resume writing and building tools that will impress potential employers and give you an advantage over other applicants.

Our simple step by step process walks you through the process of creating an impressive resume, cover letter, reference sheet and thank you letter.

We also offer resume writing and resume review services by a National Award Winning Resume Writer & Certified Coach for Job and Career Transitions.

***End Quote***

Now as everyone knows, I am not big on turkeys spending money for “job search” stuff. However, in this case, $25 seems like a trivial amount if it gets you started quickly.

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Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Gooferment fails at everything it tries because it is not properly incentivized

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

http://www.lewrockwell.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo128.html

Why the Military Fails To Protect Us
(And Lies About It)
by Thomas J. DiLorenzo

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After five years, it is not even safe to drive to the airport from downtown Baghdad unless one is driving in an armored tank – and even that is not perfectly safe. This would suggest that the September 10 testimony before a congressional committee of General Petraeus, the commanding general in Iraq, should be taken with a grain of salt about the size of Texas. It would hardly be good for his career, and his legacy, to admit that the operation that he planned and executed has been a failure.

*** end quote ***

Yup, the “perfumed princes of the pentagon” are politicians. And, to expect results from gooferment is the perfect definition of insanity.

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POLITICAL: Poor in the USA is a joke

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2007/09/10/american-poverty

September 10, 2007
American Poverty
By Lisa Fabrizio

*** begin quote ***

The Heritage Foundation’s Robert E. Rector has written a fine piece cataloging the Census Bureau’s statistics and linked to all the pertinent data. If you’re anything like me, some of the highlights might not surprise you:

* Forty-three percent of all poor households actu­ally own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.

* Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.

* Only 6 percent of poor households are over­crowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.

* The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

* Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31 percent own two or more cars.

* Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.

* Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.

* Eighty-nine percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and more than a third have an automatic dishwasher.

The point being, that the depth of poverty that exists in too much of the world is basically nonexistent here. But although our poor are better off than those in most of the world — so much so that millions of impoverished foreigners are willing to risk their lives and break our laws to join them — some Americans do live in unfortunate, if not dire, circumstances. Of course, the major difference is that the poor in this country have the opportunity to improve their lot.

*** end quote ***

Here are two reasons why we have to get the gooferment out of the “war on poverty”. (1) Poor in the USA is not the same as poor elsewhere on the globe. (2) They demotivate people from working — both the takers who could work and the makers who say why should I bother to make more.

I learned this lesson when some TV show interviewed an illegal from Africa and asked why did he want to come to America. His astute reply “here poor people are fat”.

How “fat” we don’t ever realize.

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INTERESTING: when your hardware lets you down

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=25171

Based on my readings of Edward De Bono, I really began to grok:

* paradigm (a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated; broadly : a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind )

* perception (how our hardware influences our software to fool us)

AND

* meme (a convenient way of discussing “a piece of thought copied from person to person”)

Here’s an excellent example of how our hardware fools our software into thinking that is “wrong”.

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Posted by reinkefj

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