I finally found a satisfactory explanation of credit default swaps, in a Rolling Stone article I haven't finished yet.
You need to get interested in this. It's worse than you think.
Stay tuned.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Interlude
It began with a runny nose. Although, looking back, it probably began with several days of unexplained fatigue.
It progressed to "malaise," a crushing headache, a 100.3 degree fever, chills and weakness.
Luckily, by the time I was able to get to my doctor, it had already begun to recede. He prescribed cough medicine and suggested "Umcka," a South African geranium-based homeopathic virus-fighter. I also used those Zicam nose swabs. Maybe they worked!
Anyway, I was in a fog for a few days but now I'm back.
It progressed to "malaise," a crushing headache, a 100.3 degree fever, chills and weakness.
Luckily, by the time I was able to get to my doctor, it had already begun to recede. He prescribed cough medicine and suggested "Umcka," a South African geranium-based homeopathic virus-fighter. I also used those Zicam nose swabs. Maybe they worked!
Anyway, I was in a fog for a few days but now I'm back.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Cattlemen
Last night we went to the Cattlemen's fund-raising dinner, courtesy of a friend of a friend who had an extra ticket.
Large amounts of cattle parts were consumed. I don't know what cut of meat it was but it was delicious: tender but slightly chewy with long-lasting flavor. Some of the larger cattlemen and women were served entire steaks which looked like they might be sirloin.
The strawberry shortcake was okay but made me anticipate "real" strawberry shortcake made from local berries, probably available in a month or six weeks. With sweet biscuits and freshly whipped cream.
Large amounts of cattle parts were consumed. I don't know what cut of meat it was but it was delicious: tender but slightly chewy with long-lasting flavor. Some of the larger cattlemen and women were served entire steaks which looked like they might be sirloin.
The strawberry shortcake was okay but made me anticipate "real" strawberry shortcake made from local berries, probably available in a month or six weeks. With sweet biscuits and freshly whipped cream.
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Evidence
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Filing month, before and after. So far.In truth, the desk has reverted to the before status.
However, I know that progress has been made in getting papers into their proper places, including the shredder.
Earlier I made a typo that would have called this "Filling Month." That is what we're trying to avoid.
I apologize that the two photos aren't lined up. There is much to learn.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Saturday morning
Filing Month is slowly passing, with no more filing done since that I accomplished earlier this month.
The point of Filing Month is to get the desk cleared so I can find and pay bills, shred unnecessary papers (in those satisfying Shredding Moments), and create an ongoing maintenance plan for paperwork.
And then of course there is a year's worth of transactions or more to enter into Quicken so I can prepare this year's taxes. Not to mention last year's taxes, for which I did most of the work and then procrastinated until all the work vanished and needs to be done again.
But now that I know how easy it actually is to get onto Blogger, I can update more often. I am intending to migrate away from the confusing and semi-useless Facebook and direct people who want to know about me here.
It is easier to type on the real computer than the phone, no question. Perhaps I can move towards using my phone simply as a phone.
The point of Filing Month is to get the desk cleared so I can find and pay bills, shred unnecessary papers (in those satisfying Shredding Moments), and create an ongoing maintenance plan for paperwork.
And then of course there is a year's worth of transactions or more to enter into Quicken so I can prepare this year's taxes. Not to mention last year's taxes, for which I did most of the work and then procrastinated until all the work vanished and needs to be done again.
But now that I know how easy it actually is to get onto Blogger, I can update more often. I am intending to migrate away from the confusing and semi-useless Facebook and direct people who want to know about me here.
It is easier to type on the real computer than the phone, no question. Perhaps I can move towards using my phone simply as a phone.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Proposition 2
Opponents of Proposition 2, that would mandate living standards for food animals, include a number of factory-farm chicken producers, a chemical company, and me.
Even though I would like it if the animals that become our food, including laying chickens, meat chickens, pigs, cattle (includng calves for veal) and dairy cows, could be raised in roomy conditions that minimally allow them to stand, turn around and stretch, legislating this is not the right way to make it happen.
I support our local producers of organic free-range chickens and grass-fed (and grass-finished) beef by buying it whenever I can. I appreciate what they're doing, and I wish all meat could be raised this way.
I know that the conditions under which meat and laying chickens usually live are not ideal. They are indeed confined in metal pens and no, they don't have room to stand, turn around or stretch.
All of us who bite into a juicy roast chicken or scramble an egg are complicit in their suffering.
At the same time, a factory-raised animal probably meets a quicker and less painful death than a family farm animal. Just ask somebody who has lived on a farm. Ask them how the chicken actually got from barnyard to their dinner table.
And of course, modern production methods are in part accountable for the low food cost and high standard of living we enjoy in this country.
While the choice is not necessarily this simple, I will choose human prosperity and well-being over animal comfort.
Legislating the conditions under which our food animals are raised is likely to have unintended consequences, such as forcing small producers out of business, moving large producers out of state, taking their jobs with them, and raising the cost of a staple of the current American diet.
Unfortunately, a lot of the claims of the opposition to Proposition 2 are bogus. Birds would not in fact be required to have access to the outdoors, they would only be required to have more roomy cages. So the opposition claim that the birds would be more vulnerable to infection with bird flu by migratory birds doesn't hold up.
Neither does the claim that they would be more subject to salmonella, which can be transmitted to humans. Salmonella is likely to arise in confined quarters, and the new regulation would not likely make much difference. Humans can protect themselves from it by using correct preparation techniques.
It's too bad the opposition can't just stick to the facts, because the public are capable of understanding the truth: more humane conditions for food animals are a good idea, but should not be legislated. We should be allowed to choose how our food is grown, by buying what we want and can afford, and let the workings of the free market decide in the long run.
(And by the way, the supposedly unregulated banking industry whose running amok has caused so much damage is not an example of the free market.)
Even though I would like it if the animals that become our food, including laying chickens, meat chickens, pigs, cattle (includng calves for veal) and dairy cows, could be raised in roomy conditions that minimally allow them to stand, turn around and stretch, legislating this is not the right way to make it happen.
I support our local producers of organic free-range chickens and grass-fed (and grass-finished) beef by buying it whenever I can. I appreciate what they're doing, and I wish all meat could be raised this way.
I know that the conditions under which meat and laying chickens usually live are not ideal. They are indeed confined in metal pens and no, they don't have room to stand, turn around or stretch.
All of us who bite into a juicy roast chicken or scramble an egg are complicit in their suffering.
At the same time, a factory-raised animal probably meets a quicker and less painful death than a family farm animal. Just ask somebody who has lived on a farm. Ask them how the chicken actually got from barnyard to their dinner table.
And of course, modern production methods are in part accountable for the low food cost and high standard of living we enjoy in this country.
While the choice is not necessarily this simple, I will choose human prosperity and well-being over animal comfort.
Legislating the conditions under which our food animals are raised is likely to have unintended consequences, such as forcing small producers out of business, moving large producers out of state, taking their jobs with them, and raising the cost of a staple of the current American diet.
Unfortunately, a lot of the claims of the opposition to Proposition 2 are bogus. Birds would not in fact be required to have access to the outdoors, they would only be required to have more roomy cages. So the opposition claim that the birds would be more vulnerable to infection with bird flu by migratory birds doesn't hold up.
Neither does the claim that they would be more subject to salmonella, which can be transmitted to humans. Salmonella is likely to arise in confined quarters, and the new regulation would not likely make much difference. Humans can protect themselves from it by using correct preparation techniques.
It's too bad the opposition can't just stick to the facts, because the public are capable of understanding the truth: more humane conditions for food animals are a good idea, but should not be legislated. We should be allowed to choose how our food is grown, by buying what we want and can afford, and let the workings of the free market decide in the long run.
(And by the way, the supposedly unregulated banking industry whose running amok has caused so much damage is not an example of the free market.)
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