I can already hear the screams of "invasion of privacy" on this one. It seems that an enterprising Burger King manager in Brazil connected a printer to his over the counter security camera so that the patrons' pictures could be printed on the wrapping paper for the order. I think it would be absolutely cool to see my face on my Whopper (or whatever they call their hamburgers).
What will be next -- a picture on your auto repair statement of your smiling mechanic holding your transmission that he has just replaced?
See for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/user/ogilvybrazil
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Hope-ful or Hope-less
Two weeks ago my doctor started me on Sinemet, the brand name for Carbidopa/Levodopa, two drugs that are considered "the gold standard" for treatment of Parkinson's Disease. That is, if anything is going to minimize the symptoms of Parkinson's this medicine should. However, doctors are somewhat hesitant to prescribe this medicate for several reasons including:
1. There are numerous potential side effects ranging from actually increasing the symptoms to dizziness, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, and headache and in rare cases greatly increased eye blinking/twitching, irregular heartbeat, fainting, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression, hallucinations, thoughts of suicide) seizures, etc. This is not a medication to be taken lightly.
2. Some studies have seemed to show that the drug's effectiveness decreases over time so that it may not be at all effective after say 10 years. Thus, doctors would want to use it only after other drugs have been tried.
Anyway, I have now been using the medicine for two weeks and have noticed no side effects whatsoever. That's good news. The bad news is that I haven't seen any positive effects either.
EXCEPT that yesterday for a period of about 4 hours I was able to walk with just a cane. My balance and stability were back enough for me to turn back the clock a year. I looked forward to the same effect today but it was not to be. The doctor did warn me that it may take a while to determine the proper dosage. He is certain that I will see some improvement.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Pinewood Derby
It's that time of year again when all the cub scouts drop whatever else they might be doing and begin making a race car out of a block of pine. Dads drop whatever they're doing and try to "help". If they're smart they will have had some influence on how the car bodies look because, like Edward in this picture, they willl probably have to make the initial rough cutting.
Then the boys take up the less dangerous tools such as sand paper and begin the final shaping.
Tim's auto body is already starting to shape up. He claims it will be modeled after the Maserati. And he plans to paint it pink as in "Race for the Cure". Jake selected a school bus as his model. He even made a very good drawing of what he expected it to look like.
After a coat of paint they're beginning to look like the boys' wanted them to be. The plain board with the silver colored pieces on top is the "family" entry which Ed is working on. He hasn't let on what it is supposed to look like when he's finished.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
A New Scooter Driver in Town
Being the youngest in the family has never seemed much of a handicap to Camdan. He naturally assumes it is his duty to discipline his older brothers and help them learn new skills. This is a problem when it involves something new to him as he has to pretend he knows what is going on until he actually does.
Yesterday he saw Jake and Tim riding on the scooters/skateboards that we keep at Grandma's house specifically for the boys to ride. As soon as one of the skateboards was empty, he took it over . Only trouble was, he couldn't tell how to make it go.
Hmmm, back at square one. I'll just carefully observe other scooters.
Dad tries to help out but runs into the same problem.
Ah heck. Looks like I'll have to put it away. Wait! If I push with my foot, I can make this thing move. Watch out, world! Here I come!!!!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Caption Contest
This afternoon our next to the youngest grandson Camdan decided to grab the broom and march off the street in front of our house. His older brother Jake follows, about as little concerned as could be. I think the picture needs a caption. What would you suggest?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Execution statistics - who's winning?
You have to be careful about statistics. They can be true and yet very, very misleading at the same time. For example, it is true that China executes between 400 and 500 people a year (1). With a popultaion of 1,345,000,000 (1.3 billion) (2) that is 1 execution per 3 million people. For comparison the great state of Texas executes approximately 21 people per year(4) and has a population of 24 million(3). So Texas has 1 execution per 1 million people - 3 times the rate of China. The rest of the USA executes about the same number as Texas and has a population of 300 million so that is 40 executions of 1 per 7.5 million.
In summary, for every 15 million population:
USA executes 2 people per year
China executes 5 people per year
Texas executes 15 people per year
Hooray for Texas!!
Texas population 24,000,000
China 471, USA 42
China 1360,000,000 USA 308,000,000
Executions 21
(4) http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/death-penalty-facts/executions-by-year/page.do?id=1011591
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Little Bakers
If you catch them at the right time and in the right mood, little boys can be very helpful in your projects. Here grandson Jake and his friend Trent are helping me reach down the cookie sheets for the ginger snaps I reviewed recently.
When I asked them to pose by acting like they had just poured in the flour, this is what I got. All in all, though, they were pretty good help,
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Ginger Snaps
Today's recipe review and recommendations will be for two ginger snap recipes.
Chewy Molassses Crinkles from Martha Stewart's Cookies
And Gingersnaps (chewy) by Karen Ganas
As you might suspect the two recipes are very similar as you will see from the table below:
Ingredient | Martha Stewart recipe | Karen Ganas recipe |
Butter | ½ cup | 1 cup |
Brown sugar, packed | 1 cup | 1 ¼ cup |
Granulated sugar | ½ cup for mix, ¼ cup for rolling | -- |
Molasses | ½ cup | 5/16 cup |
Eggs | 2 large | 1 |
Flour | 2 cups | 2 ¾ cup |
Vegetable Oil | 2 Tbsp | -- |
Baking Soda | 1 tsp | 1 tsp |
Ground Cinnamon | 1 tsp | 1 ½ tsp |
Ground Ginger | 1 tsp | 1 tsp |
Ground Allspice | 1 tsp | -- |
Ground Cloves | -- | ½ tsp |
Coarse Salt | ½ tsp | -- |
Instructions | Mix butter, brown sugar and ½ cup granulated sugar until smooth – about 3 minutes. Add in eggs one at a time then molasses & oil. Reduce speed and all other ingredients. Chill for at least 1 hour. Scoop or form 1 ¼ inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar. Bake at 325 for 17 minutes. | Cream butter and sugar. Add molasses and egg. Beat until smooth. All rest of ingredients. Chill for at least an hour. Roll into balls and coat with granulated sugar. Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. |
We found both cookies had great taste. Martha's cookies were a little more chewy while Karen's could melt in your mouth. Martha's cookies could be cooked just a couple of minutes longer and be great dunkin' cookies.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Healthcare Reform
Which, of course, should be called Healthcare INSURANCE Reform since it has much more to do with insurance than health care. I wanted to publish at least a small entry on this topic simply because for better or worse it is liable to be the coming decade's BIG THING. It will be blamed for or credited with all the good and bad things that come out of Washington for some time. Every politician elected or defeated is likely to blame or credit the Reform Act. Long after it's influence can possibly be shown, it will go on affecting our lives.
Now if we could just get the news media to talk about something else.
Now if we could just get the news media to talk about something else.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Car Wash Season
It's that time of the year again - when people figure the rains have pretty much stopped and they want their car looking good. It's also the time when youth groups, high school clubs, fraternities, church classes, etc. see an opportunity to offset some of their outing expenses.
We find it entertaining to see what sort of "draw-in people " each group has and if clever enough) can we suddenly negotiate a turn into the car wash people.
We find it entertaining to see what sort of "draw-in people " each group has and if clever enough) can we suddenly negotiate a turn into the car wash people.
The car wash crew.
Sorry kids. This is what happens when someone who normally uses a much better camera borrows yours. It's too bad because the kids were fine looking students from American River College. Affiliated with the Model UN program there, they were earning money to help support a competition trip to San Francisco.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
POP- ular music
I have really enjoyed my Renaissance class this semester. The topic is the development of popular music through the past 100 years. To make the subject more manageable, the instructor has divided it into decades. Some have been much more meaningful to me than others.
For example, this week's decade was the 50's the one where I spent most of my childhood, learned to play the piano, accordian, and string bass, and found out that girls can make your life exciting and miserable. So naturally the music of the 50's brings back those memories like a summer flash flood. Patti Paige's "Tennessee Waltz" was the #1 hit of the decade and the first sheet music I received and learned to play. My dad sang it at least as well as Patti. In fact, this was the first class this semester for which I have piano music for every number discussed.
The 50's was also a decade of great change in music and the world: pre 55 singers sang with orchestras, post 55 they sang with small combos; pre-55 singers sang songs written by song writers, post-55 singers sang what they wrote; pre-55 music was sold on 78's, post-55 we had 45's and LP's, 78's died; pre-55 we danced to Como, Crosby, and Astair, post-55 we danced to Elvis and Buddy Holly; pre-55 we had adolescents, post 55 we had teens.
From the teary eyes around the room when the computer was turned off and the lights came back on, I wasn't the only one who had many fond memories of the 50's. Do you?
For example, this week's decade was the 50's the one where I spent most of my childhood, learned to play the piano, accordian, and string bass, and found out that girls can make your life exciting and miserable. So naturally the music of the 50's brings back those memories like a summer flash flood. Patti Paige's "Tennessee Waltz" was the #1 hit of the decade and the first sheet music I received and learned to play. My dad sang it at least as well as Patti. In fact, this was the first class this semester for which I have piano music for every number discussed.
The 50's was also a decade of great change in music and the world: pre 55 singers sang with orchestras, post 55 they sang with small combos; pre-55 singers sang songs written by song writers, post-55 singers sang what they wrote; pre-55 music was sold on 78's, post-55 we had 45's and LP's, 78's died; pre-55 we danced to Como, Crosby, and Astair, post-55 we danced to Elvis and Buddy Holly; pre-55 we had adolescents, post 55 we had teens.
From the teary eyes around the room when the computer was turned off and the lights came back on, I wasn't the only one who had many fond memories of the 50's. Do you?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Another one bites the dust
Carolyn and I like to celebrate the little things in life (such as making it through another week) by eating out at a nice, modestly priced restaurant. And we prefer to get some sort of "deal" either with a coupon from the Pennysaver or the newspaper or even the Entertainment book.
Tonight we had our palettes all set for Vientos, a Mexican style restaurant with some items a little different from other Mexican restaurants (such as physically warm salsa with your pre-meal chips). But when we got there -- the cupboard was bare. In fact there was a big Grubb & Ellis for sale sign draped across the front window.
We had no trouble finding another place to eat (Dos Urbanos) and the food was great. It just wasn't Vientos.
Tonight we had our palettes all set for Vientos, a Mexican style restaurant with some items a little different from other Mexican restaurants (such as physically warm salsa with your pre-meal chips). But when we got there -- the cupboard was bare. In fact there was a big Grubb & Ellis for sale sign draped across the front window.
We had no trouble finding another place to eat (Dos Urbanos) and the food was great. It just wasn't Vientos.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Healthcare D & D
Is it just me or does it feel like Washington is embroiled in a long, updated version of Dungeons and Dragons:
You roll a 47 - Curse of "can't win for losing" You campaigned on change so you propose change of healthcare system. Pilloried for "government takeover of healthcare".
You roll 15 - Curse of Thesaurio. You can only say no but you can't use that word. So you use every phrase possible like 'start over again", "too long and complicated"
You roll 22 - Get magical power of Supermajority in the Senate
You roll 44 - Win one senator and two representatives. Kill Supermajority
You roll 39 - Open chest of smoke and mirrors. Declare Supermajority unnecessary.
You roll 75 - You vote against every Democratic proposal even those you proposed earlier. Use cloak of No Shame to cover hypocrisy.
You roll 38 - Dig deeper in chest of smoke and mirrors. Declare majority is unnecessary.
You roll doubles - You meet with President and Democrats, announce afterward it was a waste of time.
You roll doubles - You meet with President and Republicans, announce afterward it was a productive meeting. A bill with bipartisan proposals is being prepared.
Press rolls 000 - Thinks maybe there were two meetings and they missed one or both.
You roll 100 - declare vote unnecessary.
You roll 101 - declare cooperation unnecessary
President rolls 222 - declares change in law unnecessary. Issues Executive Order 2010-288 expanding Medicaid to all citizens not covered by other insurance to be paid for by tax on all employers not providing a minimum level of medical insurance for their employees.
You roll a 47 - Curse of "can't win for losing" You campaigned on change so you propose change of healthcare system. Pilloried for "government takeover of healthcare".
You roll 15 - Curse of Thesaurio. You can only say no but you can't use that word. So you use every phrase possible like 'start over again", "too long and complicated"
You roll 22 - Get magical power of Supermajority in the Senate
You roll 44 - Win one senator and two representatives. Kill Supermajority
You roll 39 - Open chest of smoke and mirrors. Declare Supermajority unnecessary.
You roll 75 - You vote against every Democratic proposal even those you proposed earlier. Use cloak of No Shame to cover hypocrisy.
You roll 38 - Dig deeper in chest of smoke and mirrors. Declare majority is unnecessary.
You roll doubles - You meet with President and Democrats, announce afterward it was a waste of time.
You roll doubles - You meet with President and Republicans, announce afterward it was a productive meeting. A bill with bipartisan proposals is being prepared.
Press rolls 000 - Thinks maybe there were two meetings and they missed one or both.
You roll 100 - declare vote unnecessary.
You roll 101 - declare cooperation unnecessary
President rolls 222 - declares change in law unnecessary. Issues Executive Order 2010-288 expanding Medicaid to all citizens not covered by other insurance to be paid for by tax on all employers not providing a minimum level of medical insurance for their employees.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Thank God for Evolution - book review
I think it is a brilliant choice of titles when, without their opening the book, hundreds of thousands of readers can be offended. Author Michael Dowd has done just that with his book "Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World"
My first thought at seeing the title was: " Is he kidding?
My second thought was: "I have to read this!" Pretty effective title, I'd say.
Indeed, Dowd is serious. Without losing one whit of his fundamentalist Christian faith, Dowd reinterprets and redefines until he can reconcile his faith with Darwin's "Origin of the Species" as well as hundreds of books that have reinterpreted and extended Darwin.
To begin, Dowd defines "private revelation" as that given to one person. It cannot be proven or disproven - it just is. It is often passed through oral traditions until it is written at which time it is solidified, "written in stone" so to speak. It becomes scripture and is often worshiped as much as the God who reveals himself in such writing. It, of course, cannot be scientifically proven nor disproven.
In contrast Dowd defines "public revelation" as scientific discovery. This class of revelation can be scientifically proven. In fact, it can only be public revelation if it is disprovable. In this way Dowd hi-jacks science to service religion and opens away for science to use religious scripture.
Dowd also defines "night language" and "day language" as you would expect - the former to talk about mythic history and oral traditions, the latter to talk about data and experiments and provable theories. God is then transformed to the greatest of all things, namely the Universe, and the Gospel (the Good News) is superseded by the Great Story, the multi-billion year story of the universe from the Big Bang to whatever the end is.
His wife, a scientist, and he, a Christian fundamentalist, have even developed their own religion. They spell it the same but emphasize a different syllable: She is a CreAtheist. He is a CreaTheist. Clever, huh!
Dowd's claim is that all religions can be overhauled and woven into the great story which will continue to develop as the universe evolves into it's destiny.
Dowd and his wife are on a multi-year traveling mission explaining his Great Story to all who will listen. Not surprisingly, liberal Christians and believing scientists are the most likely to listen to their work.
I found the book well written and well thought out. However, the reasoning is not particularly compelling. From a personal, caring God to a Universe as God may keep God in science but at what cost?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Hot Rod "Q"
Using a rolling walker has become more and more problematic and dangerous to me and people around me. So three weeks ago we rented a power wheel chair to see if it would make sense to have that in my life. Three weeks into the rental period we were convinced it would make a positive difference.
The price difference between a new machine and a slightly used one was high enough that we decided it would make more sense to buy a used machine if we could find one. We called on a couple of listings in Craig's list and also asked Capital City Home Medical Supplies, the company from which we rented a machine.
This past weekend through a referral from Capital City we connected with a man from Reno whose mother had just passed away leaving an almost brand new power chair. After some half-hearted negotiating we paid for and took possession of a Quantum 600 SL power chair.
Ed and Tiff came over to admire it as well as help me make some minor adjustments to the arm rests.
Here's Q climbing in the van for his next adventure:
Watch out, world, here I come.
The price difference between a new machine and a slightly used one was high enough that we decided it would make more sense to buy a used machine if we could find one. We called on a couple of listings in Craig's list and also asked Capital City Home Medical Supplies, the company from which we rented a machine.
This past weekend through a referral from Capital City we connected with a man from Reno whose mother had just passed away leaving an almost brand new power chair. After some half-hearted negotiating we paid for and took possession of a Quantum 600 SL power chair.
Ed and Tiff came over to admire it as well as help me make some minor adjustments to the arm rests.
Here's Q climbing in the van for his next adventure:
Watch out, world, here I come.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
CPAP - Class
No, that's not CRAP, it's CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. My sleep test a few weeks ago determined that without continuous positive air pressure in my airway I actually stop breathing which isn't a good thing. Between normal breathing and not breathing at all I snore loudly and a lot. I don't even have to fall asleep to snore - just relax a little.
Anyway, I've now been on the machine (pictured below next to our bed) two nights - long enough to think that I may be able to get used to it, not long enough to see any benefits yet. Actually, I"m working into it as I could only take it 2 hours the first night and 4 hours the second night. Sometime this week I should be able to sleep through the night with it.
Before using the machine I had to attend a class at the Kaiser hospital. The Respiratory Therapist (RT) was certainly qualified enough but spent too much time introducing herself and the machine and not enough time on fitting the masks and explaining what "therapy" will actually consist of. She hinted that we would be meeting again but didn't say when or how.
For a machine that belongs to each patient, I found the RT quite possessive. We were shown how everything fits into a nice carrying case but not given a chance to try it ourselves. We were shown how to see what the air pressure setting is but not allowed to set it or even see how to set it.
But the biggest problem I had with the class is that by the time we got to fitting on the masks there was little time left. The RT barely had time to demonstrate how to put a mask on let alone how to adjust it. A couple of us ended up with a choice of two masks and there was no discussion of which one would be best for us or how one would even choose. Actually there was some argument whether we would be allowed to choose.
In spite of the class, I have been able to adjust the mask and use the machine. I'm impressed how the machine can sense the breathing resistance or need for air and adjust it's pressure accordingly. Now I'm waiting to be impressed by a good night's sleep and a more healthy, peppy day.
In spite of the class, I have been able to adjust the mask and use the machine. I'm impressed how the machine can sense the breathing resistance or need for air and adjust it's pressure accordingly. Now I'm waiting to be impressed by a good night's sleep and a more healthy, peppy day.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Number 5!!
I don't think I've ever been the 5th customer in a new business. But that's what Carolyn and I were today when we dropped in to see if Abu's was open. Abu's is the name of the place that used to be Jaspers Hamburgers and where I got such a reputation for ordering egg burgers.
The new owners have tastefully redecorated the entire cafe giving it a fresh, clean look. The cooking and eating facilities remain in the same location and the new owners are also keeping the tradition of baking fresh bread every day.
We found the menu ambitious for a new restaurant with many burger and kabob entries. We decided to try one of each: a chicken kabob for Carolyn, an egg hamburger for me. Initially, they told us that the kabob would be served with fries as they didn't have rice so Carolyn asked for a salad instead of either. By the end of our meal, however, they had brought her a plate of hot steaming rice in addition to the salad.
The food was delicious and more than ample. In fact, I don't think they need to have every hamburger 1/2 pound or more. This is lunch, for goodness sake. The service was slow as if the kitchen help was still finding their tools and menu ingredients. I wouldn't expect the same lack of speed two weeks from today.
One of the younger employees kept coming back to our table to ask if everything was okay and could he get us anything. We're not used to such hovering service in a hamburger bar and grill.
There are a few rough edges they'll need to work on such as salt & pepper shakers on each table and condiments on the tables or by the drink dispenser. But on the whole the place looks really good. The prices are still in the mid-range so that a lunch should cost $8 to $10 and you'll certainly get your money's worth.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Jenny Loveridge, Yearbook Editor
It is difficult to describe the book. It is a 10 pound, 1 square foot, 357 page photo album. Except that it is better than most do it yourself photo albums since all the pictures are professionally printed on fine quality paper and bound securely by professional book binders. This book is meant to last.
If you visit us, you may SEE the book but don't let me SHOW you the book as you'll then be here for hours. Thanks again, Jenny and Philip.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Too good to be true??
We all know "there aint no such thing as a free lunch" or TANSTAAFL as made famous by the science fiction writer Robert Heinlein. Still, every once in a while a company will introduce some special pricing that is so convoluted that it actually does produce what appears to be a "free lunch". In this case I'm talking about our cable TV provider Surewest who is currently offering their Advanced Digital TV system.
As near as I can tell AD-TV is their fancy name for their Digital Video Recorder or DVR. We tried their DVR back when HD first arrived but the software was so inferior to TIVO that we couldn't stand it - and we don't use TIVO except for two or three favorite programs. Anyway, they claim to have significantly upgraded both their DVR hardware and software. AND for a limited time they are offering this upgrade for an additional $2 a month. In addition (or should I say in subtraction) since we have bundled phone and Internet service with the TV we will have our phone reduced $5 a month and Internet $10 a month for 6 months. Let's see -- $15 a month for six months is $90 savings. So my breakeven point is 45 months! And if it truly is better than TIVO we can save an additional $15 a month so we come out ahead forever!
Surewest Advanced Digital TV, here we come. Installation date is 3/25. Review will follow.
As near as I can tell AD-TV is their fancy name for their Digital Video Recorder or DVR. We tried their DVR back when HD first arrived but the software was so inferior to TIVO that we couldn't stand it - and we don't use TIVO except for two or three favorite programs. Anyway, they claim to have significantly upgraded both their DVR hardware and software. AND for a limited time they are offering this upgrade for an additional $2 a month. In addition (or should I say in subtraction) since we have bundled phone and Internet service with the TV we will have our phone reduced $5 a month and Internet $10 a month for 6 months. Let's see -- $15 a month for six months is $90 savings. So my breakeven point is 45 months! And if it truly is better than TIVO we can save an additional $15 a month so we come out ahead forever!
Surewest Advanced Digital TV, here we come. Installation date is 3/25. Review will follow.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Pre-census letter
I'm sitting here looking at the envelope pictured above and shaking my head. You will notice the box in the upper right hand corner where a stamp would normally be affixed.
First Class Mail! This wonderful letter addressed to "Resident" was posted as First-Class mail. I'm assuming that every household in America got the same letter which notified the residents of that address that next week we would be getting a Census Form in the mail and asking them to complete the form. Is a pre-notice really necessary? Just ballpark figures assume the average household consists of 3 people and there are 300 million residents of the USA. That's 100 million letters. First-class postage is $0.44 but there is a discount for pre-sorted. However, there is some cost in preparation so we'll say it cost 50 cents per letter to prepare and mail. This little notification cost you and me only $50 million!
No wonder the Tea Baggers protest the out of control government spending.
The Census Bureau claims that the pre-letter and an anticipated post-letter will raise participation and form return by 6 to 12%. And for each form returned the cost is $1 for the two letters versus $25 for a follow-up visit by a live census taker. So a 4% increase would break even and a 12% increase would be a significant savings.
Still, I bet you just threw away your letter. Right?
Monday, March 08, 2010
Glue lickers anonymous
I don't think the settings, goals, methods, personnel, etc. could be any more different but I'll have to say that I thoroughly enjoy my two bookbinding "positions" which I routinely do every Monday. Because Pat's back yard has had a bit of a drainage problem during the recent rains its been a while since I was down there but normally I'm there twice as much as at the Family History Center (FHC).
At the FHC the emphasis is getting the book back on the shelf. Although there are general guidelines for repairing a book, creativity is allowed and even encouraged. We are all amateurs in the sense of not getting paid and even in the sense of not knowing exactly what we're doing. Stan is our latest volunteer addition and he is especially good at making us enjoy ourselves at our own expense.
Pat Bruno, on the other hard, has had years of experience rebinding books that are priceless or so valuable that I wouldn't want to touch them let alone rebind them. He knows the right way to do things and several near right shortcuts which he doesn't like to use or demonstrate. His work is beautiful but often far exceeds the value of the book being repaired.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Put the pedals to the metal
Again I feel the urge to climb up on my soapbox. This was caused by an editorial cartoon implying that adequately regulating banking would involved throwing bankers to hungry dinosaurs.
Assuming newscasters and commentators represent the American people (which of course they don't) one gets the impression from news media that the banking industry is to blame for much of our current economic troubles. And the solution is to replace the leaders of the banking industry and increase the regulation.
Now Credit Unions are not banks and I'm not a banker. But Credit Unions operate under many of the same type of regulations and business practices of banks and I have served on the board to two credit unions for over 20 years combined, 4 of those years as president of the board. So I think I know something about banking.
Banking has been one of the most regulated industries. They had strict guidelines about what percentage of their assets could be loaned to what type of clientele, how much profit they could make, how their credit card interest and payments had to be structured, how many bad loans they could make. It was all regulated. But foreign banks were getting more of the business because of less regulation. So we loosened the regulations and let banks get creative. It worked - more credit was available to more people but at the cost of increased risk exposure.
Now we're demanding greater responsibility (read "more and harsher regulations") and more credit (read less regulations or more liberal regulations). This is like driving down the road with one foot on the gas pedal and one foot on the brake. Brand new drivers sometimes do this with the result that the car jerks and pitches, often throwing around passengers and packages.
So, too, we can expect a bumpy ride until we have a fully functioning banking system back in place and we let the experts once again recommend and run their banks.
Assuming newscasters and commentators represent the American people (which of course they don't) one gets the impression from news media that the banking industry is to blame for much of our current economic troubles. And the solution is to replace the leaders of the banking industry and increase the regulation.
Now Credit Unions are not banks and I'm not a banker. But Credit Unions operate under many of the same type of regulations and business practices of banks and I have served on the board to two credit unions for over 20 years combined, 4 of those years as president of the board. So I think I know something about banking.
Banking has been one of the most regulated industries. They had strict guidelines about what percentage of their assets could be loaned to what type of clientele, how much profit they could make, how their credit card interest and payments had to be structured, how many bad loans they could make. It was all regulated. But foreign banks were getting more of the business because of less regulation. So we loosened the regulations and let banks get creative. It worked - more credit was available to more people but at the cost of increased risk exposure.
Now we're demanding greater responsibility (read "more and harsher regulations") and more credit (read less regulations or more liberal regulations). This is like driving down the road with one foot on the gas pedal and one foot on the brake. Brand new drivers sometimes do this with the result that the car jerks and pitches, often throwing around passengers and packages.
So, too, we can expect a bumpy ride until we have a fully functioning banking system back in place and we let the experts once again recommend and run their banks.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Taking care of the farm
When Carolyn was a little girl her father had a dairy farm to help raise his strong, talented, and ambitious sons. My father managed to get his sons delivering papers in the wee hours of the morning and thinning beets in the summer heat. But what does a city dwelling father do nowadays? Well, if you're my son Edward you bring the boys over to Grandma & Grandpa's house and teach them how to mow and edge the lawn.
Of course we're the happy recipients of such efforts and appreciate both the work they do and the skills and self motivation they are learning. I just wish we had been around when they finished so we could have taken them out for an ice cream reward.
Of course we're the happy recipients of such efforts and appreciate both the work they do and the skills and self motivation they are learning. I just wish we had been around when they finished so we could have taken them out for an ice cream reward.
Friday, March 05, 2010
If it's not a drug, it can't do anything
As if to prove that politicians aren't the only ones full of themselves or to show that reasoning was in short supply when Obama filled top positions in the FDA, that agency has begun citing foods such as Cheerios and Diamond brand walnuts for making health claims on their labels. If the FDA had told the companies to "prove your claims" it would have probably been a good move. But no, the FDA said only drugs can have the effect you're claiming and your product isn't a drug therefore it can't possibly have the effect claimed and you're in violation of federal law.
For example, Cheerios claimed on it's package to lower cholesterol. FDA's position is that such claims can only be made for drugs. Either Cheerios is a drug and therefore subject to FDA regulations or it is improperly advertising something it cannot do because it isn't a drug. Take your pick -- the FDA shows it's lack of intelligence either way.
For example, Cheerios claimed on it's package to lower cholesterol. FDA's position is that such claims can only be made for drugs. Either Cheerios is a drug and therefore subject to FDA regulations or it is improperly advertising something it cannot do because it isn't a drug. Take your pick -- the FDA shows it's lack of intelligence either way.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
A new machine for Arnold
The following sound level comparison chart was found at http://www.iapcooling.com/dBA_Sound_Levels.htm The reason I am presenting it here is that we will shortly be adding another piece of equipment to our bedroom suite - a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure and it is used in the treatment of Sleep Apnea which I apparently have.
The machine which delivers this positive air pressure (up to 20 mm /H20) does so at a continuous sound volume of 38 dBa. That, according to the following chart is slightly louder than soft music and slightly quieter than a whisper.
It seemed to me to be an unusual way to get the equipment. The sleep lab sent the report to my primary physician who called durable medical equipment (DME) and ordered the CPAP. DME called me to alert me of the shipping. Two days later 3 boxes appeared on our front doorstep. A note inside one of the boxes instructed me to call the sleep lab. They called back and we agreed upon an appointment, really a class time when I will haul the boxes back to the sleep lab and for 1.5 hours learn how to turn it on and off and clean the filter.
In spite of the instruction to not remove the equipment from the boxes, I did take them out to look them over. I ddn't turn the machine on because of the tattle-tale chip inside which collects data on sessions run and successes or problems. Only after the class am I supposed to try out the machine.
The machine which delivers this positive air pressure (up to 20 mm /H20) does so at a continuous sound volume of 38 dBa. That, according to the following chart is slightly louder than soft music and slightly quieter than a whisper.
It seemed to me to be an unusual way to get the equipment. The sleep lab sent the report to my primary physician who called durable medical equipment (DME) and ordered the CPAP. DME called me to alert me of the shipping. Two days later 3 boxes appeared on our front doorstep. A note inside one of the boxes instructed me to call the sleep lab. They called back and we agreed upon an appointment, really a class time when I will haul the boxes back to the sleep lab and for 1.5 hours learn how to turn it on and off and clean the filter.
In spite of the instruction to not remove the equipment from the boxes, I did take them out to look them over. I ddn't turn the machine on because of the tattle-tale chip inside which collects data on sessions run and successes or problems. Only after the class am I supposed to try out the machine.
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