Averygoodun's Personal File

Worst headline ever? I mean, it's like a bad translation from Chinese (a google translation, to boot), except that it's not. It's a bad summary of the first sentence/paragraph:

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's weekend reform of its currency regime nails shut the coffin on the last remains of doubt about whether the world's second biggest economy has successfully steered a course past a hard economic landing.


For some reason, I expected better of you, Reuters. *tsks*

Religious freedom vs. Health care requirements...

*sigh*

All this hullabaloo about the legality of the Obamacare mandate is making me twitchy and sad. Honestly, I think the conservatives have a point about the legality of the mandate, which is why I wasn't crazy about this plan to begin with. However, I'm trying to be optimistic. Perhaps if this law does get tossed out (though please let it stand!), a single-payer system will be offered as the only viable alternative. (I do not consider rebates of a couple thousand dollars on $15,000 insurance plans as a realistically viable option.)

And it's not like it would be bad for insurance companies! After all, a government provided health insurance system (which is what "single-payer" is) would have to be pretty basic in nature, covering only basic doctor's visits and emergencies procedures/care. So, the current oligopoly of insurance providers would still be in the same business, and employers would still be able to offer "good" insurance as a perk in their benefit packages ("Our insurance covers all prescriptions!" "Our insurance offers chiropractic care!"). Who's to lose?

(The implied argument that breaking the tie between employment and health insurance will encourage layabouts is as false as "trickle-down economics." Getting everyone covered, no matter their employment status, would probably boost the marketplace because it would encourage entrepreneurialism, as people wouldn't feel tied to jobs they hate (and only put in the bare minimum of effort on)!)

Oh, and the best part about a single-payer system? None of these religious freedom claims could be made. Every single person in the world who pays taxes is paying towards something they morally oppose. Assuming they have morals at all (and if they don't, they probably aren't paying taxes). No exceptions. If an employer doesn't like the insurance options (birth control, blood transfusions, whatnot), they don't have to offer it! Their employees will still be covered! It's a total win-win situation!


However, I think that if the law gets tossed out, it's more likely to take us one step closer to revolution, simply because it will highlight even further the disconnect between the conservative ideals of "freedom" and the modern reality of living in civilization.

It will also highlight, once again, the questionable set-up of our unelected, unimpeachable "justices."


The upshot of all this is that I need to stay away from the news from now till June, if possible. I don't see that happening, but I need to make an effort. This plus the other injustices I see blaring out across the internet makes me feel very, very pessimistic about the future.

Well, that and the inevitability of a not-perfect score on my test tomorrow. It's hard to get a perfect score when more than one answer is technically correct (on a multiple choice test). *sigh* I so don't like her tests. (priorities: I haz them!)

Here's a link to the first one. Women's Health Experts Speak Out


And here's a song I've been enjoying. I do like listening to songs about messed up relationships!

http://news.yahoo.com/low-iq-conservative-beliefs-linked-prejudice-180403506.html

*

Must. finish. homework. reading.

NOW!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

But I had to share this gem of a spoof of the Tebow-mania.

(For non-American friends, Tim Tebow (the bow is pronounced as in bow-tie) is quarterback (throwing dude) of the Denver Broncos football (hand-egg) team. He has been a HUGE story over here because as soon as he was put in as starter (lead throwing dude), the Broncos suddenly started winning, rather miraculously. And by miraculously, I mean that they really shouldn't have won because they played like crap until the last quarter Every. Single. Game. Plus, he throws like shit. So, add to the miracle wins the fact that Tebow is OVERTLY Christian, like, in-your-face-thank-you-Jesus-for-everything type Christian, and takes to kneeling in prayerful thanks after every touchdown ("Tebowing"), and you have wonderful parody material.

Oh, and Tom Brady is the New England Patriots throwing dude. He is a seriously good quarterback who beats the snot out of just about everyone in the field today, talent-wise. Plus, he's hot. Google him.)

Anyway, I hope all of you can see this clip, because it's a thing of beauty.

( You tube version of Tebowie )

A better quality version from Hulu.

Apparently Christmas lights are pagan.

~blinks~

Um... The whole Christmas ritual as we celebrate it is pretty pagan, really. And seeing as the roots of Christmas go back to early Christians co-opting Saturnalia to get more followers... Yeah. It's pagan. So what? I'm not a JW, so I really, really don't care.

That said, it's finally starting to feel a bit more like Christmas around here. Having the (pagan) tree up with the lights aglow and the days cold helps with that feeling, I think. Too bad it's going to warm up again for Christmas... :-(

( Hallelujah Corporations )

My brain has been displaying the blue screen of death pretty much all day today. I think it will be an early bedtime. Or I hope it will be, anyway.

Let's see if you can spot where I got bored while doing this open book quiz...


( Self-management mumbo-jumbo )

What you missed while not watching last night's GOP debate.

I'm guessing the writer, Michael Scherer, is not a Republican.

It's hilarious. If you don't have time to read it all (I don't right now), just read the first paragraph. It's worth it.