Middlesex

I’m not typically a reader of fiction. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just that I prefer non-fiction for some reason. Recently, though, I was looking for a book to read on my bus travels and I was all out, so Julia suggested I read Middlesex, a Pulitzer prize-winning novel. Despite it being fiction, I enjoyed… Continue reading Middlesex

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Categorized as Books

Joementum

Tracking what is in and out of the health care bill at this point is a pretty hard task, with closed-door negotiations and compromises everywhere. But one thing is clearly evident: Joe Lieberman is a terrible, terrible human being.

The recovery

The economic recovery is going to be painfully, painfully slow. That’s all there is to it. You don’t need fancy equations, or smart economists, or even a crystal ball to know this. All you need is this one graph, courtesy of NPR:

Engaged!

On Saturday, Julia and I got officially engaged. Although we’d been planning things for a while, the actual activities were a surprise to her. We started off at WA Frost in Saint Paul, where we had an absolutely delicious dinner of scallops, filet mignon, and three different desserts, accompanied by a great pinot noir. The… Continue reading Engaged!

Thanksgiving photos

Julia and I went to visit my mother in Kansas City over Thanksgiving, and of course I brought along my camera. The full gallery is here, with samples below the jump…

The green economy – it’s not about climate change

People are becoming more skeptical about climate change. Much of the change has to do with the failing economy, although the recent embarrassing emails from several scientists hasn’t helped win the public over. Coupled with this increased skepticism (which is wholly disconnected from the reality of climate change) is a decrease in focus on the… Continue reading The green economy – it’s not about climate change

Net Neutrality

Of all the political debates out there, the one that confuses me the most is the notion that some people would be against net neutrality who did not work for ISPs like AT&T and Verizon. There are liberal/conservative splits on many issues that have merit, but when it comes to net neutrality, I can’t see… Continue reading Net Neutrality

The grand tax-reform bargain

The U.S. tax system is a mess. But overhauling it is a daunting task. The last time in happened, in the 80s, it was more of a miracle than anything else: the stars aligned, both sides wanted reform, and the leadership was strong enough to turn aside the special interests. It is these special interests… Continue reading The grand tax-reform bargain

Double white lines are confusing!

While Minnesota has a lot going for it, when it comes to drivers, no other states has more idiots. I’ve driven through a lot of states in this country. I’ve driven in a couple places in Europe, including on the Autobahn. Nowhere are drivers as stupid as in this state.

Health care reform priorities – Cost or Coverage?

A lot of people who are opposed to the current health care reform bill in Congress believe that it focuses on the wrong priority: instead of working to cover everybody with insurance, as the current bill attempts, more effort should be put into lowering costs first. I agree that lowering health care costs is just… Continue reading Health care reform priorities – Cost or Coverage?