This thread is made of funny and irony. And a little gall- just think: you go to a random group of strangers and skip introducing yourself or making any kind of relationships, then immediately pose a problem and expect them to give you a highly intelligent and possibly technical recommendation without any kind of harassment, and then you go away satisfied? I don't think you have a very good grasp of human social dynamics, my uber friend.

You're not a moron- your first post makes that evident. Try doing some research and finding your own answers- and if you just want to have some friendly geeky conversations here, make an intro thread and tell us a little about yourself that doesn't immediately put us under the pressure of finding an answer to whatever question it is your boss pays you to find on your own. Either that or offer to pay us to give you an answer- that is how capitalism works, after all.

Edit: also, you defy your title's premise with your responses- you did say "any idea's welcome ", you did not limit which ideas would be welcome by stating "any good idea's welcome " or even "any relevant idea's welcome ". You haven't really welcomed any of the ideas posed. Jerk.

I've been using a regular alarm clock tuned to my NPR station (I like Morning Edition), then just turned up too loud for me to ignore. It still takes a few (sometimes 10) minutes for me to wake up, but it's not stuff I want to turn off, so I generally don't snooze much.

I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.

Well, yeah. I mean, nobody does, do they?

Okay, fine. But if we're going to have "Muslim Dress Swimming Hour", I insist on having "Free Strippers Skinny Dipping Hour" too. It's only fair.

Wait, you're not talking about Red Dwarf, are you?

Also, I'm a fan of this for breakfast, although I don't get it very often since my girlfriend doesn't care for it. I think she's weird.

Yeah, I can't remember being much of a fan of squirrelmasta, though I'm sure things have changed. Here's to new beginnings, right?

So I figured since I've been AWOL for ages, I'd reintroduce myself for the benefit of people who joined since I was last active.

Hi. I'm Phyre, otherwise known as Matt. I'm from HN, and I know Detta personally. I like cheesecake and viognier, not necessarily simultaneously. I enjoyed the latest Star Trek movie, but I've always been a fan, so my opinion shouldn't count. I like kayaking, swimming, reading, model making, computer science, and cooking breakfast. I'm a professional mechanic, so don't mind me if I only show up on the weekends- I work like a bitch during the week and have little time online.

I'm a nice guy. If you're nice too, we'll have plenty of fun together.

Well fuck you then.

Really, what the hell, man? You're completely new here and the first impression you decide to make is a bad one, picking on the theme we use here, which is the least possible denominator that keeps us all coming back here? Give compliments when introducing yourself to new people, it's just good manners.

Also, I used to insult my boss by calling him "Captain Awesome" behind his back. He was neither.

Welcome, New2This! Please obey the HypnoToad.

Found in that article:

Meanwhile, the independent Lewin Group estimates

Waitaminute....

Lewin group linked to private insurers

Insurer-Owned Consulting Firm Often Cited in Health Debate

"I do not think that word means what you think it means"... but I digress.


Question 2 assumes that the first question results in an answer that results in increased spending. Question 1 is a good question, and makes a good point that we should be getting more for our money right now- we really ought to be allocating our resources better. If someone can answer Question 1 in a way that doesn't increase our spending, then Question 2 is moot.

I like Question 3.

I don't get Question 4- this is probably because I personally have no real bias in the abortion debate. Abortions being performed now are paid for just fine in the existing system- I see no need to have taxpayers paying for them, but I also don't see why this needs to be a centerpoint argument in a much larger debate. I guess I feel like Question 4 has less to do with healthcare and more to do with abortion, which is a completely different problem, IMO.

I also like Question 5. What's "for the people, by the people" mean if you're not in the same boat as all the rest of us?

I've got nothing on questions 6 or 7. Not that I can't have an opinion, but I haven't done the research to talk about it and I won't speak out of turn.

8 makes a good point. Government does not have a reputation for being the most effective manager of any given system, much less the existing healthcare programs. This shouldn't be an argument for doing nothing, though. There are legitimate problems with our system that need remedies.

Number 9 assumes, again, that a solution involves spending more money. I want to see another solution.

Which is where Tom comes in with Question 10. I've felt for a few months that we've rushed headlong into this healthcare debacle, and I can't help but think that anything with that much impetus is bound to crash badly. I don't mean that I'm against this healthcare bill, I mean that our elected officials should have taken more time to study the issue and come up with something that really works, not just for today, but for the next 20, 40, 60 years. Because I'm not looking forward to reaching my golden age at a time when you have to threaten your doctor with a spear to get a boil looked at because the US lost the Great Healthcare War of 2031.

Also, I think it's a little funny that most Senators go by "Senator" but in the middle of a healthcare debate Tom Coburn's senatorial website calls him "Dr. Coburn". Maybe that's normal, for a doctor turned politician, but it doesn't hurt him politically, either.



[/twocents]

In my head:

song:  Seize The Day
artist:  Avenged Sevenfold
album:  City Of Evil

I tend to agree. And I'm friends with both of them.