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Friday, May 27, 2016
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
The ACA Complaints
I had a friend complaining about the ACA and the costs. While costs go up, a few reports have shown that costs have gone down overall, thought plenty of individual complaints about rising costs. Also, companies pulling out of exchanges. I’m not sure that’s because of not being financially viable. I think it’s more greedy, not enough profit viable.
However, someone posted the Heritage plan from 1989 and said it was dramatically different from the ACA. My response.
I read the pages, and I agree with xxx. The plans are very similar. Require everyone to have insurance, mandate this, provide subsidies, and impose a fine through a check at tax return time. The requirement of family v employers is divergent, but that's not what I'd call very different. It's a step from where we were to where we would like to be. I'd like to see all health care outside of employer plans, but that's a big step to take. Lots of people disagree, and I've yet to see anyone on the GOP side propose this as a modification of the ACA.
I didn't se anything about catastrophic plans and self-insurance. There is hedging about having the government have some input into plans in a limited basis, which could be debated.
I would say that the ACA is a good step forward. Certainly it can be improved, it also should be better implemented in different states. I can find plans that are in the $12k range (silver) and gold plans in the $15k range in CO. Some of the problems exist in that insurance is state based, which causes dramatic swings in prices. So if you're a states’ rights person, this is how things work. If you're a federal rights, you bemoan this. Neither is right, just different.
I think in the discussion of the ACA we've lost some objectivity and rationality. I think the goals and aims were worthwhile and mostly achieved, but there is some failure. Some is poor design (employer burden) some is poor implementation and obstructionism by the GOP, who have continually and constantly refused to try and put the citizens of this country above their party success. Fuck them.
At the end of the day, insurance companies are greedy bastards that want to make millions (for a few people) while there is relatively little concern over the actual health of individuals. There is a need for regulation if we are going to use insurance companies. I'd like to see a high guideline (And limit) at the federal level, but really more state/local review of what profits are allowed. I'd also want to require complete pricing disclosure. Transparency would help.
I have no idea how to get consumers to better manage healthcare. If the costs are low, they will abuse and overuse the system, as pointed out in the Heritage document. Not many, but perhaps we should manage or limit those individuals from using the system this way rather than limit everyone. How we do that? No idea. Someone smarter will have to come up with ideas.
However if costs are high, people avoid healthcare and possibly preventing other issues. Not to mention cultural issues of people not actually wanting/trying to take care of themselves.
This is a mess, but blaming the ACA or the GOP isn't helpful. Come up with something workable and talk to your congress people. Sticking with talking points and parties continues a mess.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
New Tires
Ugh. I need new tires for the BMW.
I’ve had a slow leak in one tire, and it hasn’t been too bad, but the last few days it’s lost air and needed pumping each morning. Finally today I took it in and the shop looked at it, noting that the inside of the tire is really worn. I’ve had the car only a year, but certainly driven it a bit. I knew the tires were getting low, but wasn’t overly worried. I did think I’d need to replace them this fall, but guess it’s fall now.
Now I need new ones, so it’s time to schedule something and take the wallet hit. Not what we needed now, but I guess I can’t control when things wear out.
There are certainly some issues with this car that are expensive, and it makes me rethink getting another one. I might look to try the Lexus next time.
Rain, Rain , Rain
Not a great couple of days, and a little worrisome for graduation this coming week. We’ve had a good rain, which makes me glad I did chores this weekend. The road is a mess and it’s getting torn up each morning as I take Kendall to school for finals.
I’m hoping things dry up, at least to give us a nice graduation. If it rains, we’re limited to how many people can watch. However, I’d like a couple days to dry and let me tractor out some of the ruts.
We plan on rafting one day, which looks really iffy. However the chance to hike or see some great Colorado mountains would be good, so hopefully we can get up there at least one day with family visiting.
Monday, May 16, 2016
A Rainy Day
After spending the weekend outside, doing chores and running both days, I’m glad I did. It’s raining today, a dreary, drizzly day, and a good day to stick inside. I did get out for yoga, but otherwise just staying in.
Glad I also spent time working on the driveway, filling a hole, moving some dirt near the barn, and clearing out a few piles of old manure and spreading in a pasture.
Gonna be a muddy mess trying to get anything done the next few days.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Not sure why this is better than the bed, but Stitch is chilling
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The Bathroom Question
It seems that there’s been this huge debate about bathrooms and transgender people in the US. I think it’s somewhat silly, and also I do think that people should be able to use the restroom with the gender they identify with. Any concerns over boys identifying as girls today and not tomorrow is overblown. If you claim that, you’re a pervert, a frat boy, and certainly a liar. I can’t imagine any court or administrator thinking it’s OK to change for a day, or even today without making lots of alterations in your life.
I was in Copenhagen last week and saw this:
In a public movie theater, there are 6 or 8 stalls in here. Generic for boys or girls, women or men.
I’ve been to saunas and pools in Europe, where men and women walked in naked. Together.
If they don’t have a big problem with it, why do we? I know cultures are different, but this feels like a play by conservative GOP people to make waves over a relatively simple change. Don’t allow discrimination, including to LGBT people. However the strong concern and complaints are an effort at fearmongering by conservatives, at least to me.
It’s silly. Live and let live.
I can’t see this being a problem in lower schools (elementary). In middle/high school, there will be some issues, but we have some now. I certainly can’t see dangers from teachers that don’t exist now.
In college, the same.
This whole debate seems silly to me.
Beginning Java
I remember when Java was released as a language. I was working in computers, mostly as a general purpose developer/admin for a small company. At least, I first heard of it then, used to make more complex web animations in the early public/commercial time of the Internet. I learned to write some code, and I thought it interesting, but as I had a day job requiring Microsoft based languages, I didn’t go far.
However I’ve been thinking more about learning Java again. I’d like to teach, especially in schools. I’ve had it in my mind to make a 3-4 year plan to get certified to teach AP computer science, and offer to do so at the local high school. Kendall has three years left, and I’d like to start a plan to fill my time after that. I finally talked to her high school volleyball coach the other day and found out they don’t have AP CS at the high school, which was one of my favorite classes when I was in high school.
So I started down the path today. I went to Pluralsight and took the Java skill assessment. I did better than I thought, since I haven’t really dealt with any Java in nearly 18 years.
C# is really a better choice for me in my career, and I need to build skills there. However the languages are similar in that the concepts are the same. They both aim to be portable, object oriented languages. I read some comparisons, like this one, and I think the basics will be similar. The concepts both aimed at producing code at a fairly low level.
Since I have a multi-year plan, and because C# is more useful to me, I’m thinking to start there. I’ve written a little C# to do some work this year, and I’ve started a few courses, but I’m thinking to really build some skill there in the next year and then try Java, and then go for the teaching certificate.
At least, I think that will move me along. I have plans to meet with the Vice Principal at the high school and try to build a way forward. They’re just plans, but I think once school ends, I might see if I can talk with him about how I can go about getting a job to teach one class at the high school in a few years.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Friday, May 6, 2016
Joe's happy for the Broncos even though we beat the Vikings last year
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The old man and the old man. Always good to see Andrew when I come over
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Thursday, May 5, 2016
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Didn't make the earlier flight so working in the Copenhagen SAS lounge
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Two days in Copenhagen
Not really the two days I wanted. I had hoped to wander a bit Monday, but a slightly delayed flight, and being tired meant that I didn’t get to the hotel until 6. Then it was a quick run before dinner with speakers. By the time we finished, I was beat.
Actually I left early, having traveled for a long time from Denver. However I did get up at 6, downstairs at 6:20 to meet a few other people and run along the river.
That was the extent of my tourism. All day in the conference, plus a little work, plus then a party at night. I left early for a quiet dinner, but didn’t have the energy to wander far and search out adventure.
Today was the same. A solo run at 6, then off to the conference as I had the first session. I also had to check out, so with my bags I stayed at the end, leaving at 4:30 and going straight to the airport.
Still, an enjoyable trip, and people were very friendly. Everyone spoke English, and I’d like to come back at some point.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
I wish I could do this (no time and out of shape) while in Copenhagen
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Monday, May 2, 2016
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Can't block that nonsense. I think they were shooting for the basketball hoop
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10 days. Me and these two bags have to get through Copenhagen, Liverpool, and Cambridge. And home.
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