Interesting article in the WSJ titled "Why French Parents Are Superior." I'm pretty terrified by the prospect of raising children - though in a lot of ways I'm looking forward to it. The philosophy here is one I certainly agree with - I want my kids to have all their needs met, just not all their desires. Getting what you want all the time practically guarantees unhappiness in the long run. I realized its very difficult to ignore a crying baby but its also important for kids not to learn to cry wolf. Often I wish my clients could learn the same lesson - if everything is an emergency then nothing is an emergency.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204740904577196931457473816.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Monday, February 6, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Superbowl
Great performance by the Giants - though I suspect if the Pats had Gronkowski playing injury-free it would have been a very different games. But injuries are part of the game, if you're going to utilize one player a lot he's going to get hurt more often. Two of the Giants tight ends left the game with injuries.
I kind of consider the Bears my college football team and the Giants are my NFL team. Of course I'll always root for the Bears over the Giants, but I have to say the Patriots are damn fun to watch. Before that last Giants TD I was telling Michael that the Pats should let the Giants score and give the ball back to Brady... and that's exactly what they did! And it almost worked! They just play the game on so many different levels that I'll always be pleasantly surprised whenever watching them.
I kind of consider the Bears my college football team and the Giants are my NFL team. Of course I'll always root for the Bears over the Giants, but I have to say the Patriots are damn fun to watch. Before that last Giants TD I was telling Michael that the Pats should let the Giants score and give the ball back to Brady... and that's exactly what they did! And it almost worked! They just play the game on so many different levels that I'll always be pleasantly surprised whenever watching them.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Meditations on a sober month part 1
Now that I'm done with my sober month its time to reflect upon what I've learned. Thanks to Amanda I found out I'm not the only one who's had this idea:
http://www.theawl.com/2012/01/a-drynuary-diary-week-two
For years I thought my lack of specific goals was a problem. I'd read through other people's bucket lists and look for inspiration for my own. But now I don't think life is about "checking things off my list," I don't ever want to feel like my life's work is done. I want to explore the world rather than subject it to my will.
Another thing I've been thinking a lot about is what I'm good (or improved) at and what I'm bad at. First the good. I'm generally optimistic about life, I can reflect on my past without regret. I used to try to forget who I was or where I came from, I hated pictures because they reminded me of the past. But now I've realized that was foolish, Past Paul is the one who got me here, I should be grateful and proud. And as a result I've gained an affinity for pictures - they're an homage to how I got to today.
More recently I've become better at not obsessing with staying busy and learning to say no. I learned years ago that I can't relax by being idle, watching a movie doesn't help me destress it just pauses my stress which then comes back as soon as its over. To truly destress I need to be physically or socially active, but I had taken it so far. When my schedule is over-booked everyday things like laundry, dishes or calling my family become additional sources of stress. Plus the more I try to do the less value I attach to each particular thing. Learning to say no has helped here, there's no reason for me to try to fit a workout, laundry and trivia into one weeknight. My friends won't abandon me if I can't make it out one Tuesday. Also this past month I've become a lot better at thinking introspectively. I've always had trouble articulating my thoughts verbally, writing has always been easier (the backspace button helps.) But over the past month I've been able to take a more objective view of my life, hence this post.
Now, what I'm bad at. Part of my month of drinking was about not doing the easy thing. Although I accomplished my goal, I don't think I did enough with my time. I certainly read, wrote and thought more, some of which was hard but nothing that I wasn't already accustomed to. February's theme needs to be more about going beyond my comfort zone. In some ways I need to become better at giving up control. I don't like crowds, I don't like airplanes, not because of the inherent risk but because I'm not controlling the risk. Yet if I only put myself in situations where I'm in control then nothing unexpected will happen. Often its the unexpected things that happen or people you meet that are the best. I also need to stop trying to hard to seek the approval of others. Not that I want others to hate me but on occasion it has stopped me from doing what I wanted to do or maintain relationships I didn't want to maintain. Some people won't like me, its a fact of life I don't need to change their minds or pretend that I like them. One last thing that I'm bad at (for now) is following through or following up. I've always been more of an idea person than a details person, in other words I'm good at starting and bad at finishing. But if I'm not going to finish why bother starting? And finally I'm bad at spending money. Not because I think I spend too much or too little but because for months I'll think its ridiculous to pay $8 for lunch but then be totally ok with dropping $2k in Vegas over a long weekend.
More to come.
http://www.theawl.com/2012/01/a-drynuary-diary-week-two
For years I thought my lack of specific goals was a problem. I'd read through other people's bucket lists and look for inspiration for my own. But now I don't think life is about "checking things off my list," I don't ever want to feel like my life's work is done. I want to explore the world rather than subject it to my will.
Another thing I've been thinking a lot about is what I'm good (or improved) at and what I'm bad at. First the good. I'm generally optimistic about life, I can reflect on my past without regret. I used to try to forget who I was or where I came from, I hated pictures because they reminded me of the past. But now I've realized that was foolish, Past Paul is the one who got me here, I should be grateful and proud. And as a result I've gained an affinity for pictures - they're an homage to how I got to today.
More recently I've become better at not obsessing with staying busy and learning to say no. I learned years ago that I can't relax by being idle, watching a movie doesn't help me destress it just pauses my stress which then comes back as soon as its over. To truly destress I need to be physically or socially active, but I had taken it so far. When my schedule is over-booked everyday things like laundry, dishes or calling my family become additional sources of stress. Plus the more I try to do the less value I attach to each particular thing. Learning to say no has helped here, there's no reason for me to try to fit a workout, laundry and trivia into one weeknight. My friends won't abandon me if I can't make it out one Tuesday. Also this past month I've become a lot better at thinking introspectively. I've always had trouble articulating my thoughts verbally, writing has always been easier (the backspace button helps.) But over the past month I've been able to take a more objective view of my life, hence this post.
Now, what I'm bad at. Part of my month of drinking was about not doing the easy thing. Although I accomplished my goal, I don't think I did enough with my time. I certainly read, wrote and thought more, some of which was hard but nothing that I wasn't already accustomed to. February's theme needs to be more about going beyond my comfort zone. In some ways I need to become better at giving up control. I don't like crowds, I don't like airplanes, not because of the inherent risk but because I'm not controlling the risk. Yet if I only put myself in situations where I'm in control then nothing unexpected will happen. Often its the unexpected things that happen or people you meet that are the best. I also need to stop trying to hard to seek the approval of others. Not that I want others to hate me but on occasion it has stopped me from doing what I wanted to do or maintain relationships I didn't want to maintain. Some people won't like me, its a fact of life I don't need to change their minds or pretend that I like them. One last thing that I'm bad at (for now) is following through or following up. I've always been more of an idea person than a details person, in other words I'm good at starting and bad at finishing. But if I'm not going to finish why bother starting? And finally I'm bad at spending money. Not because I think I spend too much or too little but because for months I'll think its ridiculous to pay $8 for lunch but then be totally ok with dropping $2k in Vegas over a long weekend.
More to come.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Hear! Hear!
I agree with this guy, it's very refreshing to hear someone say "I was wrong, I screwed up, I'm sorry."
http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2012/02/02/no-one-is-ever-wrong-anymore/
Apparently Gingrich didn't even call Romney to congratulate him for winning Florida. If your ego can't handle losing, you're not ready to be president.
http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2012/02/02/no-one-is-ever-wrong-anymore/
Apparently Gingrich didn't even call Romney to congratulate him for winning Florida. If your ego can't handle losing, you're not ready to be president.
How Medicare drives the whole health care system
Interesting article from Slate about how changes in Medicare compensation have driven up the costs of health care for everyone else.
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2012/01/american_health_care_is_already_socialized_.html
In summary Medicare significantly underpays hospitals for the cost of their services, thus hospitals need to charge a higher rate to private insurance companies and individuals so they can stay in business. So yeah its really just one giant hidden tax. I have no problem with wealth redistribution via taxation, just redistribution via hidden taxation.
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2012/01/american_health_care_is_already_socialized_.html
In summary Medicare significantly underpays hospitals for the cost of their services, thus hospitals need to charge a higher rate to private insurance companies and individuals so they can stay in business. So yeah its really just one giant hidden tax. I have no problem with wealth redistribution via taxation, just redistribution via hidden taxation.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
About that $200,000 you just spent...
Interesting op-ed about how colleges claim they don't want to cut costs because education quality will suffer - despite the fact they have no way of measuring the quality of the education they provide.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-zimmerman-are-college-students-learning-20120131,0,3266290.story?track=rss
On a test of critical reasoning and logic skills, 36% of college students showed no significant improvement between their freshman and senior years. The value of education is very difficult to measure because there is a big upfront cost and gains spread out of the rest of year life. I worry schools are taking advantage of these uncertain payoffs - which I akso suspect people overestimate. Tuition has been rising very rapidly for the last 30 years, mostly to build new facilities and pay administrators. This rise in tuition has been fueled by an expanding student loan market that will lend almost any amount of money to anyone. Why? Because if you go bankrupt you still need to pay off your student loans. They'll even garnish your wages / social security to recover the balance. Credit cards, mortgages, auto loans etc will all go away student loans are treated the same way as child support payments. Unreal (thank you George Bush). In theory having a government policy "supporting" education is good thing but if the only result is higher college tuition are we really helping people get educated? Or are we just enriching administrators and the buyers of student loan securities?
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-zimmerman-are-college-students-learning-20120131,0,3266290.story?track=rss
On a test of critical reasoning and logic skills, 36% of college students showed no significant improvement between their freshman and senior years. The value of education is very difficult to measure because there is a big upfront cost and gains spread out of the rest of year life. I worry schools are taking advantage of these uncertain payoffs - which I akso suspect people overestimate. Tuition has been rising very rapidly for the last 30 years, mostly to build new facilities and pay administrators. This rise in tuition has been fueled by an expanding student loan market that will lend almost any amount of money to anyone. Why? Because if you go bankrupt you still need to pay off your student loans. They'll even garnish your wages / social security to recover the balance. Credit cards, mortgages, auto loans etc will all go away student loans are treated the same way as child support payments. Unreal (thank you George Bush). In theory having a government policy "supporting" education is good thing but if the only result is higher college tuition are we really helping people get educated? Or are we just enriching administrators and the buyers of student loan securities?
I wonder if the placebo effect works for birth control pills?
If not then a lot of women might be in for a surprise. Apparently pfizer accidentally put sugar pills where birth control pills were supposed to go.
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2012/02/01/pfizer_recalls_28_lots_of_birth_control_pills/
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2012/02/01/pfizer_recalls_28_lots_of_birth_control_pills/
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