Since it has been over two months since my last resolution update I decided it was time. I have been putting this off because I wanted to have some type of major accomplishment to report. My accomplishment you ask? For the first time ever, I can honestly say that my driver’s license accurately reflects my weight. I know some of you are laughing right now (I probably would to) but after lying for almost a decade now (sometimes with MUCH bigger lies than others), it feels good to have rid my conscience of at least one little white lie. Unfortunately this accomplishment may be short lived as my license is up for renewal in September. It will be interesting to see if I am again compelled to reduce my actual weight by 10 pounds or so… I know, I am crazy, but ask most any other women and you will find that we are all crazy (but you knew that already, right?).
Needless to say, the healthy eating and exercise regimens have been paying off; not as quickly as I might have hoped but with frequent lapses in judgment and a seemingly unbreakable habit of drinking my weight in beer… I really have no grounds to complain. I am about 40% complete with my 30 pound resolution (that’s 12 pounds for those of you that are a little slow with the math). It may seem like I am ahead just by looking at the numbers but I know that it will get harder and harder as the year goes on. This in mind, I have been trying something new the last couple days that might help to speed things up… actually tasting my food. As much as I love food, it may be surprising that I typically inhale my meals, not really tasting much of anything. I have slowed it down and I can already tell that it will help me to eat less. More on this effort soon…
An update on the other resolutions:
Limit Television – I have been horrible with this one over the last several weeks. Although I am not nearly as bad as I was pre-resolution I admit I have been spending many an hour on my couch lately. I am hoping that this post will give me some renewed willpower and help me to say no to the seductive powers of the Food Network, Bravo, TLC and CNN.
Walk the Dog – I never really got this one going and now that the dog has moved back to Arizona I am taking it off the list. I thought about trying to get up and take walks by myself but I am simply not a morning person and it seems that I may be incapable of overcoming this fact, at least not this year. Right now it is an accomplishment if I can get to work by 9am so doing anything additional in the morning seems like a bad idea if I want to keep my job.
No Soda – I have been perfect on this resolution! No cheating… damn I am good. I have substituted soda with water mostly but lately I have been branching out and trying other drinks although somewhat unsuccessfully. There is a lot of nasty beverages out there… do not try Hansen’s Sugar Free Sparkling Sheek; it is quite possibly the most repulsive liquid I have ever put in my mouth.
Start my Novel – Still not started and I am still reading my first “research” book… I still have 9 months left though – the resolution was start the novel, not finish itJ
Go Back to School – Not a whole lot of new news to report on this one. Still on the damn waitlist at Haas but should hear something new by the end of the month. I have decided that if the answer is either “no” or “you’re still on the waitlist” I will move forward with putting the deposit down at Anderson. Anderson may not be my first choice but it is a damn good choice! After visiting the school a couple of weeks ago I am excited about the program, the people and even a little bit about LA (or at least about the beach)!
Make 2008 about Me – Well it hasn’t been about anyone else yet so I guess I am doing okay with this one.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Paper Aeroplane - Angus and Julia Stone
Paper Aeroplane - Angus and Julia Stone
I spilled the ink across the page trying to spell your name
So I fold it up and i flick it out
Paper Aeroplane
It wont fly the seven seas to you
Cause It didnt leave my room
But it awaits the hands of someone else
The garbage man
Got to say mmm mmm mmm X2
So he opens it up and reads it out to all his friends
Amongst the crowd a heart will break and a heart will mend
He walks on home tired from work
The letter falls from his hand
He reaches out only to catch the sky
Its gone with the wind
Got to say mmm mmm mmm X2
I spilled the ink across the land
Trying to spell your name
UP and down there it goes
Paper Aeroplane
It hasnt flown the seven seas to you
But its on its way
It goes through the hands
Then to someone else
To find you girl
Got to say mmm
I spilled the ink across the page trying to spell your name
So I fold it up and i flick it out
Paper Aeroplane
It wont fly the seven seas to you
Cause It didnt leave my room
But it awaits the hands of someone else
The garbage man
Got to say mmm mmm mmm X2
So he opens it up and reads it out to all his friends
Amongst the crowd a heart will break and a heart will mend
He walks on home tired from work
The letter falls from his hand
He reaches out only to catch the sky
Its gone with the wind
Got to say mmm mmm mmm X2
I spilled the ink across the land
Trying to spell your name
UP and down there it goes
Paper Aeroplane
It hasnt flown the seven seas to you
But its on its way
It goes through the hands
Then to someone else
To find you girl
Got to say mmm
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A Message of Hope
Despite being largely on the fence earlier this year, I voted for Hillary in the Super Tuesday primary. My decision was grounded in two main areas:
First, as you might imagine I find Hillary’s focus on fixing the healthcare system as particularly attractive - I don’t think she has the solution, but I do think that her passion will help her and others to develop the right solution once she is in office. I have not seen this same passion on the issue of healthcare from any other candidate.
Second, Hillary’s dedication to feminist ideals throughout her career is deeply important to me as a woman. Her first-hand understanding of the challenges that stand in the way of women in America, paired with over 30 years of activism, gives me hope that she will continue move feminism forward.
Over the last two months I have watched as Hillary has gained and lost a lead in the delegate race. Although the battle is getting tough, she still has my full support and I am hopeful that she might pull out the nomination.
With that said, today, for the first time (ever) I was deeply moved by a politician. This morning Barack Obama delivered the most meaningful political speech of my lifetime. Although the speech came in response to media frenzy over what another man had said, the message he gave was not just a response but an inspiration.
His heartfelt words told the story of our nation’s troubled past and how it has shaped our troubled present. He called attention to the deep seated racism that most are afraid to mention, the racism that has been ingrained in white, black, Latino, Asian and Native American people for centuries now. He was not afraid to say that racism always was and still is a part of who we are. Although we have tried to hide and ignore this problem for as long we have realized it is a problem, it remains.
Despite calling attention to America’s dirty laundry, he left me hopeful. He made me feel proud to be an American; something that I have not been able to say for a very long time. He made me remember that America is full of good people, with good hearts and good intentions. The hatred that sometimes surfaces in our day to day lives comes from a long history of discrimination that has been entrenched in our culture and has been proliferated by bad policy decisions and an irresponsible media. The wounds of the past are deep, but we are capable of healing with the right vision and the right leader.
Although I wholeheartedly support Hillary, I have no doubt that Obama will serve our nation well as president. If he ultimately wins the nomination at the convention this summer I will proudly cast my vote for him in November and look to him to lead us out of our past and into a brighter future.
If you have not heard or read Obama’s speech I strongly encourage you to do so and share it with anyone and everyone that is willing to listen. The message he delivers is not meant for the ears of white people or black people, it is meant for the ears of the American people and each and every one of us can find meaning and hope in his words.
The Transcript - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/18/politics/main3947908.shtml
The Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU
**Help Jess win a $1,000 Scholarship - Please comment on this post at http://www.progressiveu.org/030438-message-hope**
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Breakable - Ingrid Michaelson
After seeing Ingrid on the Hotel California Tour Saturday night in Anaheim I have come to realize that I am falling in love with her. In person, she is (if possible) even more charming and witty than the songs she sings. This is the song she opened with, is one my favorites and is somewhat meaningful to me at the moment...
Breakable - Ingrid Michaelson
Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?
Just a cage of rib bones and some other various parts.
So it's fairly simple to cut right through the mess,
And to stop the muscle that makes us confess.
And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.
And You fasten my seatbelt because it is the law.
In your two ton death trap I finally saw.
A piece of love in your face that bathed me in regret.
Then you drove me to places I'll never forget.
And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.
And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls-
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls-
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.
Breakable - Ingrid Michaelson
Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?
Just a cage of rib bones and some other various parts.
So it's fairly simple to cut right through the mess,
And to stop the muscle that makes us confess.
And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.
And You fasten my seatbelt because it is the law.
In your two ton death trap I finally saw.
A piece of love in your face that bathed me in regret.
Then you drove me to places I'll never forget.
And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.
And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls-
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls-
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Mo' Money Mo' Problems
I recently stumbled onto e-utopia for fellow nerds seeking thought provoking tidbits on healthcare policy, the health insurance market and economics. The Healthcare Economist http://healthcare-economist.com/ has the tag line “An unbiased look at today's health care issues” but I prefer “The make Jessica think without overwhelming her blog” – one cannot find enough such places in life.
This evening I came across the post Lenin as the first development economist. As you might imagine a title like this caught my eye fairly quickly. The posting summarized some of the main ideas of a paper by a NYU development economist, William Easterly, which recently appeared in the American Economic Review. As I read the post and ultimately Easterly’s paper, I realized that the ideas really had very little to do with Lenin (which is what initially pulled me in) but nonetheless provided me with one of the thought provoking hours I have spent in a while. The questions below represent my thought process as I progressed through the paper.
My First Question: Does Foreign Aid = Foreign Development
The Summarized Answer: No - The countries that receive the most aid (mostly in Africa and Latin America) show little or no economic growth each year while other Countries that have received virtually no aid (China, India, Vietnam) are making great progress. The success or failure of different aid programs and initiatives shows no consistency – there is no one size fits all solutions for inspiring economic growth.
My Next Question: So if foreign aid isn’t helping, is it hurting?
The Summarized Answer: Maybe – Although there is no way to prove it, it seems logical based upon the facts presented in Easterly’s essay that foreign aid may actually undermine policy reform, reduce local government accountability, intensify corruption and stand in the way of normal economic development.
Before everyone freaks out thinking that Easterly or myself are suggesting that anyone stop foreign aid programs, the essay does indicate that some foreign aid is necessary in overcoming barriers that stand in the way of normal development – providing clean water, health care, infrastructure development – projects focused on creating opportunities, not complete transformation.
The Big Question: What does this mean to me?
My Answer: In general I agree with everything that Easterly says in his paper (kind of hard to disagree with an expert) but the whole time I was reading I was thinking about how all of this extended outside the concept of foreign aid programs. I have always been (and probably always will be) very inwardly focused on poverty within the United States. Throughout my reading, I focused on the similarities in the way development economists arrive at and implement foreign development initiatives and the way policy makers develop and implement welfare programs.
A series of complex thoughts and ideas from people that are what I call “crazy smart” go into each and every welfare regulation in this country and I have the utmost confidence that policy makers generally have the best of intentions (just like development economists) but that their “crazy smartness” may be clouding their view of the problem in its simplest state. Simply, there are people that are poor and need help to survive. They aren’t looking to be rich and probably never will be. We need to provide them with basic tools to survive and support them as they develop.
Our current system of support is providing needy families (and very, very few individuals) with a monthly cash payment that would never in a million years be enough to fully support anyone, food stamps to buy enough food to survive for the month – albeit on top ramen, and a Medicaid benefit card (which is by far the best thing we are doing for the poor right now). This system is a band-aid that is very poorly controlling the hemorrhaging of poverty and homelessness in this country. Ironically, although the rules and regulations that govern our welfare system are overly confusing and complicated, the way our system defines being poor is excessively simplistic. Largely, we define being poor as having no money but the reality is that being poor is typically just a symptom of any number of mental, physical or emotional problems. By throwing money at the problem we are simply treating the symptom, not the disease.
As is the case with lump-sum foreign aid, continuously putting money into the pockets of the needy is not the answer – forms of non-fiscal support are more powerful than small sums of money handed out each month can ever be. I am not suggesting that non-fiscal support is not expensive (in fact it is probably more expensive) but the benefits achieved by supporting individuals to be the very best they can be are immeasurable. Instead of expending billions of dollars each year on providing direct cash benefits to the needy (and all the overhead costs associated with determining their initial and ongoing eligibility) we should divert our focus to providing them with what they need to survive (food, shelter and healthcare) and treating the mental, physical or emotional ailment that led them down the path to poverty. Treating these ailments through targeted, personalized support will provide every individual with the power to develop normally in their lives– they will not be rich (and in fact some may still be poor) but they will have the sense of empowerment and dignity that every human deserves.
**Help Jess win a $1,000 Scholarship - Please comment on this post at http://www.progressiveu.org/040146-mo-money-mo-problems**
This evening I came across the post Lenin as the first development economist. As you might imagine a title like this caught my eye fairly quickly. The posting summarized some of the main ideas of a paper by a NYU development economist, William Easterly, which recently appeared in the American Economic Review. As I read the post and ultimately Easterly’s paper, I realized that the ideas really had very little to do with Lenin (which is what initially pulled me in) but nonetheless provided me with one of the thought provoking hours I have spent in a while. The questions below represent my thought process as I progressed through the paper.
My First Question: Does Foreign Aid = Foreign Development
The Summarized Answer: No - The countries that receive the most aid (mostly in Africa and Latin America) show little or no economic growth each year while other Countries that have received virtually no aid (China, India, Vietnam) are making great progress. The success or failure of different aid programs and initiatives shows no consistency – there is no one size fits all solutions for inspiring economic growth.
My Next Question: So if foreign aid isn’t helping, is it hurting?
The Summarized Answer: Maybe – Although there is no way to prove it, it seems logical based upon the facts presented in Easterly’s essay that foreign aid may actually undermine policy reform, reduce local government accountability, intensify corruption and stand in the way of normal economic development.
Before everyone freaks out thinking that Easterly or myself are suggesting that anyone stop foreign aid programs, the essay does indicate that some foreign aid is necessary in overcoming barriers that stand in the way of normal development – providing clean water, health care, infrastructure development – projects focused on creating opportunities, not complete transformation.
The Big Question: What does this mean to me?
My Answer: In general I agree with everything that Easterly says in his paper (kind of hard to disagree with an expert) but the whole time I was reading I was thinking about how all of this extended outside the concept of foreign aid programs. I have always been (and probably always will be) very inwardly focused on poverty within the United States. Throughout my reading, I focused on the similarities in the way development economists arrive at and implement foreign development initiatives and the way policy makers develop and implement welfare programs.
A series of complex thoughts and ideas from people that are what I call “crazy smart” go into each and every welfare regulation in this country and I have the utmost confidence that policy makers generally have the best of intentions (just like development economists) but that their “crazy smartness” may be clouding their view of the problem in its simplest state. Simply, there are people that are poor and need help to survive. They aren’t looking to be rich and probably never will be. We need to provide them with basic tools to survive and support them as they develop.
Our current system of support is providing needy families (and very, very few individuals) with a monthly cash payment that would never in a million years be enough to fully support anyone, food stamps to buy enough food to survive for the month – albeit on top ramen, and a Medicaid benefit card (which is by far the best thing we are doing for the poor right now). This system is a band-aid that is very poorly controlling the hemorrhaging of poverty and homelessness in this country. Ironically, although the rules and regulations that govern our welfare system are overly confusing and complicated, the way our system defines being poor is excessively simplistic. Largely, we define being poor as having no money but the reality is that being poor is typically just a symptom of any number of mental, physical or emotional problems. By throwing money at the problem we are simply treating the symptom, not the disease.
As is the case with lump-sum foreign aid, continuously putting money into the pockets of the needy is not the answer – forms of non-fiscal support are more powerful than small sums of money handed out each month can ever be. I am not suggesting that non-fiscal support is not expensive (in fact it is probably more expensive) but the benefits achieved by supporting individuals to be the very best they can be are immeasurable. Instead of expending billions of dollars each year on providing direct cash benefits to the needy (and all the overhead costs associated with determining their initial and ongoing eligibility) we should divert our focus to providing them with what they need to survive (food, shelter and healthcare) and treating the mental, physical or emotional ailment that led them down the path to poverty. Treating these ailments through targeted, personalized support will provide every individual with the power to develop normally in their lives– they will not be rich (and in fact some may still be poor) but they will have the sense of empowerment and dignity that every human deserves.
**Help Jess win a $1,000 Scholarship - Please comment on this post at http://www.progressiveu.org/040146-mo-money-mo-problems**
Monday, March 3, 2008
Be Here Now - Ray Lamontagne
Finding strength to enjoy today while I feel like all I am doing is waiting for tomorrow...
Be Here Now - Ray Lamontagne
Don't let your mind get weary and confused
Your will be still, don't try
Don't let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there's a strength that lies
Don't let your soul get lonely child
It's only time, it will go by
Don't look for love in faces, places It's in you, that's where you'll find kindness
Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now
Don't lose your faith in me
And I will try not to lose faith in you D
on't put your trust in walls
'Cause walls will only crush you when they fall
Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now
Be Here Now - Ray Lamontagne
Don't let your mind get weary and confused
Your will be still, don't try
Don't let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there's a strength that lies
Don't let your soul get lonely child
It's only time, it will go by
Don't look for love in faces, places It's in you, that's where you'll find kindness
Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now
Don't lose your faith in me
And I will try not to lose faith in you D
on't put your trust in walls
'Cause walls will only crush you when they fall
Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now
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