More on religion... go ahead and roll your eyes:)

I almost posted both of these talks, but they were really long. They are really good! Read them if you wish...

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Plan B "Morning-After" Pill

There is controversy surrounding the approval of making the Plan B contraceptive, referred to as the "Morning-After" pill, available over the counter.

The conservatives want it banned, the liberals want it approved. Of course.

I for one am for making it readily available. I believe it will cut down on the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies. And we sell other contraceptives over the counter; why not this one?

Thoughts?

I didn't know....

That Michelle Branch was in the Wreckers...thanks Samuel!

That I am old enough to have back sweat.

That the Flaming Lips are said to be the best rock show around

That Madonna is still as raunchy as ever....she nails herself to a disco cross in her shows on the present tour

That a blood clot dislodged from you leg can kill you

That the tide of World War II was turned in only 90 days

That helping Seth get his application ready for Medical School would be so fulfilling

That my daughter could bring me so much joy

That the prospect of Sam and Amber living closer could make me want to run around naked in a birthday hat and red cowboy boots

That buying a house could be so damn expensive

That family could be so incredibly important to me

That friends could be so incredibly important to me

That "Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister was voted on of the worst rock songs of all time.... I happen to really like that song

That members of Toto had collaborated with Michael Jackson

That I could stay up so late writing on the bloggy...

Good Night

Outsourcing Surgery

The post about nurses got me thinking, and I remembered an interesting article I just read. In this month's Time magazine there's an article about the low cost of quality health care in other countries. Perspctive doctors come to the U.S., are formally trained according to U.S. standards, and then go back to their own country. Now companies are selling "surgery vacations."

These are very reputable companies saving uninsured, and insured people thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars on high cost procedures. You can get a vacation to singapore, have a procedure done by a very competent American-trained doctor, and come back for thousands less than the inflated American system. Just to compare prices:

Heart Bypass surgery - U.S. retail cost = $122,424
Singapore = $20,000

Knee Replacement - U.S. retail cost = $40,640
India = $8,500

I for one, think this is great. I don't want to see the quality of medical care suffer, but if it can stay somewhat stable and save thousands of dollars for people needing non-cosmetic surgery I'm all for it. What's more, companies are starting to offer their employees the option to go out of the country with their healthcare plans. The kicker is the companies are willing to give back up to 25% of their savings in health care directly to the employee getting the procedure. Wow. Here's an excerpt from the article:

U.S. hospitals could certainly do with a little global competition. For years, their share of the national heath-care bill has grown at a rate far faster than inflation, and today they gobble up a third of all medical expenditures. At current rates, the U.S. will be spending $1 of every $5 of its GDP on health care by 2015, yet more than 1 in 4 workers will be uninsured. The ingrained inefficiency of most hospitals doesn't help. "A lot of them still don't know how to schedule their operating rooms efficiently," says Reinhardt. "They've never had to. They always get paid, no matter how sloppy they are."

More on the homogenization of America

I took Scott's recommendation and bought "Fast Food Nation." This passage fits perfectly into the previous discussion about the homogenization of the American landscape:

America’s main streets and malls now boast the same Pizza Huts and Taco Bells, Gaps and Banana Republics, Starbucks and Jiffy Lubes, Foot Lockers, Snip N’ Clips, Sunglass Huts, and Hobbytown USAs. Almost every faced of American life has now been franchised or chained . . . The key to a successful franchise, according to many texts on the subject, can be expressed in one word: “Uniformity.” Franchises and chain stores strive to offer exactly the same product or service at numerous locations. Customers are drawn to familiar brands by an instinct to avoid the unknown. A brand offers a feeling of reassurance when its products are always and everywhere the same. “We have found out . . . that we cannot trust some people who are nonconformists,” declared Ray Kroc, one of the founders of McDonalds, angered by some franchises. “We will make conformists out of them in a hurry . . . The organization cannot trust the individual; the individual must trust the organization.”

So not only are they dominating our cities and towns, they are trying to affect our private lives and personalities as well, making not only our infrastructure look the same but us as individuals the same and, worse, "afraid of the unknown." What is to happen to the entrepreneurial spirit? We will see fewer small and independent businesses and less diversity all around us. Only the fittest will survive, and the fittest will be those companies worth billions of dollars whose only concern is their profit margins.

Shortage of nurses

I read this on Common Dreams today:

"As the United States runs short of nurses, senators are looking abroad. A little-noticed provision in their immigration bill would throw open the gate to nurses and, some fear, drain them from the world's developing countries."

Countries like the Phillippines and India are subsequently experiencing such a shortage that they are requesting compensation from the U.S.

Just curious for thoughts on this . . . Pops?

Not so easy!

So Ton Loc told me about these little quotes that you can get everyday. Here's the one for today...

"The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do
distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing,
hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for
example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of
entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is
vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us.
Because we estrange the Spirit of the Lord when we engage in activities we
know we should shun, then such things definitely are not for
us."
( David A. Bednar, "That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us," Ensign, May 2006, 30)

Although this is pretty cut and dry, it's not always the easiest choice to make. It's sometimes discouraging to see where you want to be and know that you are really far from that point. This was a good reminder for me!

Overrated bands

Ok, since today has been full of music discussion (and alot of it about classic rock) I want to ask:

Is Lynard Skynard overrated?

From my point of view, they are a band made by Neil Young. Young wrote "Southern Man", which made Skynard mad. Skynard then wrote a response, "Sweet Home Alabama". Does anyone even know another Skynard song? I have heard 1: Freebird.

Am I just ignorant?

My turn to jump into the fire

Ok, since I feel bad for criticizing other people's taste in music (how could ANYONE not like the Beatles?)

Here is my list of favorites (remember, I'm getting old):

- JOHNNY CASH

- THE BEATLES

- Dido (a bit weak, I know)

- Shakira (don't bother criticising anything she's done in english - I haven't heard it)

- Dave Matthews (I think I'll get the most criticism for this one - people seem to be polarized on him)

- Pato Fu

- Tom Petty (Has a new CD coming out - yes I know he's ugly)

- Diggable Planets

- Audioslave

- Neil Young

Feel free to discuss any of them...

Why Is It?

If you ask a male what is the most attractive quality in a woman, most will say confidence.
If you ask me the most attractive quality a man could have (and most the girls I have talked about this with) they would say humility.

So why is it that most girls I know who are gorgeous need more confidence and I cant imagine why they are so insecure when they are gorgeous! I simply cant understand why most girls I know are so insecure!! Even I agree they would be so much more attractive if they just looked at themselves and realized not only how hot they are but how unselfish and smart they are. They have no reason to lack confidence.

On the other side I cant figure out why a lot of the guys I know are so freaking cocky. I mean seriously are you really that perfect? Do you ever take a moment to analyze yourself or, not to be superficial, (well to be superficial but lets face it.. we all are!) but to look in the mirror, or look next to you at the hot girl standing next to you that actually puts time and effort into herself and makes you look good . Cant you return the favor? These guys would actually be MORE attractive if they were so darn (the PG version) big headed and cocky.

The definition of a desirable girl is a girl with confidence and the definition of a desirable guy is a guy who is humble. But they are few and far between. Why is it?

Toni's Day Of Mourning.

The Juliana Theory broke up. I dont want to talk about it.
You can feel free to send flowers directly to my house. I will remain there until I fully recover.

Self-Identified...

These debates have taught me two things:

1) I know way too many useless facts about way too many musical artists.

2) I am a true nerd when it comes to music.

Love a good analysis of musical artists.

Cops at the Bank

My buddy busted a chick today for a bad check. She stole a check and made it out to herself for $3800. She left the bank in handcuffs! We need some male cheerleaders here to do a Bank Spirit cheer!

Description Change

This was originally Toni's idea but I think we should change the description of our blog to "Look how smart we are"

We Critique, Therefore, We Are.

All of us here think we know exactly what is, and isn't good music. It's a fact of life that most everyone thinks they are right. It's okay. If we all liked the exact same music, then we'd have no one to introduce music to, or debate with.

I think that we all critique music weighing many different factors, but in two mainly different categories. There's the style of music that is just our type of music. It resonates with us like no other music for no real reason. The Ataris aren't the best song writers in the world, I know this. Some things they do in their song writing I bag on other bands for doing. But I love their music. I just do. Kris Roe is just a good guy as a person, as a song writer, and as a personal friend (hey, we met once!!). Who people really are factors into the music I like muchly. The Format is another example. Just read the huge diary entry the lead singer posted on their website about making their upcoming album. What a down to earth likable guy. By the way, the album (due in July) is available for download now. I just got it for 7.99 and it is way different from their first album. They have changed as artists and song writers. Good for them. I'm sure it will grow on me.

Then there's the category of musicianship, and mastery of songwriting. I LOVE some songs that are out of my comfort zone just because the song, or artist pulls off something extraordinary. I really appreciate good musicians of any style whether I like their music or not. On the flip side, I have to say I don't like bands that seem to never grow, change, or better their song writing. Just stick to the formula, and if that formula is poppy, then have fun cashing your checks from your label Green Day.

What I'm getting at is liking and not liking music is rarely factual or can be debated on a level plane. I really like everyone's input on taste. I love it when you disagree, I love it when you agree. No one should be offended by anyone not liking their type of music (I'm not implying anyone has been offended). We just are different people. The one thing I think is a cop out is when people say "They suck. I don't know why. They just suck." or "I hate them so bad that no one should be able to like them." I know I say that about 311, and I really do mean it, but I'm trying to change.

Feedback please. I'm giddy with music talk.

The 200th Post!

Scott's List of Overrated Artists:

Blink 182 - Saw these guys on Jay Leno. Sang harmony like a pack of howling dogs.

James Blunt - Your voice sounds like Adam Levine of Maroon 5. You're not beautiful and I hate that song.

Mariah Carey - Can her boobs get any bigger and her songs any more boring?

50 Cent - I dont care how many times you have been shot. A video game and a movie? How about action figures to make it complete?

The Offspring - Old stuff is awesome. Pretty Fly For a White Guy? A novelty song for the musically illiterate.

Creed - hey Scotty Stapp...you sound like a constipated linebacker.

Nickleback - O MY GOSH.

Staind - see above

All Boy Bands - Absolutely no explanation needed.

Sublime - What type of music is this? Sounds White Trash to me...

Kid Rock - see above

American Idols - I agree with Jake...you wouldn't need a show if you were THAT good

Enrique Iglesias - Yeah you're from Spain...that's cool...and...that's it

Yanni - the dude can't even read music

Bob Dylan - You can't dispute his influence...but who actually listens to this stuff? All Along the Watchtower was covered by U2...and...it was better than the original.

Johnny Cash - Again...the legend status. But from another generation. I have it on my iPod...listen to it...enjoy it somewhat...but worth the heaps of acclaim...uhhhhhh...

Erasure - LOVE THE NIGHTBIRD ALBUM! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! But how did these guys stay around for so long? I just don't get the older stuff. I am just glad they stayed around so they could write the Nightbird album. Their new acoustic album? Yuk.

And Windy's most UNDERrated band of all time?

Tears For Fears. Roland Orzabal has the best voice in Rock and Roll...I think. his range is immense...and the clarity in his voice is unmatched. I read that Tears for Fears were as big or bigger than U2 back in the 80's. Internal strife cost them their status in later years. Only recently did Curt Smith join back up for the latest album. Elemental (1993) is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Innocent Humor

Paintball

We talked about playing this weekend, post up wether saturday ot monday is better

Jake's List of Most Over Rated Bands

The blog is boring lately so here is my list of over-rated bands. In no particular order.

The Rolling Stones - Does anyone say these guys are good anymore? The only thing they have going for them is that they are still around. That means you should stop. They were good just not anymore.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers - What are you singing about?

NOFX - I know, I know, It doesnt mean I don't like them, its just so stereotypical that if you think your a punk you have to be mr. hardcore NOFX. Newsflash all their cd's sound the same. Besides I heard they suck live.

Interpol - Sorry Scott, I know these guys aren't huge but all their songs are the same chords with the same melody and same rhythm.

Any hip hop band

Anyone on American Idol - Guess what if you were good you wouldn't need a show


....more to come