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Of health care and crossword puzzles

Carl Golden/NJ Voices By Carl Golden/NJ Voices The Star-Ledger
on November 12, 2009 at 10:39 AM, updated November 12, 2009 at 10:40 AM

Following and attempting to understand the proposed national health care system overhaul currently working its way through the Congress is like trying to solve a 2,000-clue crossword puzzle: No matter how many blanks I fill in, there’s hundreds left, not to mention having to go back and erase what I’ve already done because the horizontal solutions don’t comport with the vertical ones.

Each day ---- or, rather, each news cycle during the day --- produces ever greater conflicting points of view over everything from cost to the quality of medical care.

Even as I doggedly stick to the task of trying to grasp the dramatic impact of what President Obama and the Democratic majority in the Congress are attempting, I find it difficult to shake the feeling that a government incapable of managing effectively a program to inoculate people against influenza now wants to assume virtually total control of the entire health care system.

Its not as if seasonal influenza came as a surprise; it hits every year at about the same time. Even the outbreak of H1N1 --- swine flu --- was anticipated nearly a year ago and the Federal government assured a nervous public not to worry, that adequate supplies of vaccine would be available for all who wanted it.

With only a fraction of the promised vaccine actually making it to providers, long lines of anxious parents --- youngsters in arms --- waiting for clinics to open while hoping the supply won’t be exhausted before they reach the front have become commonplace. Hospitals and other health care facilities have banned visitors under the age of 18; surgical masks are flying off pharmacy shelves; hand sanitizer companies have become growth stocks; public schools are offering classes in proper hand washing.

In classic government delegate-the-blame fashion, local
agencies place responsibility at the state level while state officials point to the Federal government.

While the angst grows ever greater, Congress and the White House seem unconcerned, focusing instead on creating a massive new Federal bureaucracy to bring the same level of bungling to bear on dealing with afflictions like cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.

Given the near-panic which has taken hold as a result of the botched effort to combat the flu, its small wonder that the confidence level in government’s ability to deal effectively with health-related issues is so dismally low.

What began as a noble and worthwhile effort to offer medical insurance coverage to those Americans who are without it has gone off the rails and degenerated into a bitter political argument over cost and whether government involvement in health care is one of its proper functions or an irrevocable step toward socialism.

The original idea of easing the fears of those who are one hospitalization away from bankruptcy has been overcome by partisan skirmishes and academic debates over government intrusion into private matters.

We are told repeatedly that the United States is the gold standard for the quality of its medical care, a standard achieved, incidentally, by private sector innovation and management, rather than by government. As proof, we are reminded that people from nations around the globe leave their homes to come here for treatment.

All true, of course, which makes efforts to assure that all Americans have access to similar care all the more compelling.

Why not, then, concentrate time and energy on developing and implementing a program to enable the uninsured --- estimated at 20 per cent of the eligible population --- to purchase coverage and leave the other 80 per cent of us alone? The latest account I read described the pending legislation as a 2,000-page document which only a small number of members of Congress have read and an even smaller number fully understand.

It is reported further that the legislation was influenced in large measure by insurance companies, the medical profession, lawyers, the pharmaceutical industry, and any other special interest concerned primarily with protecting its own economic well-being. Given their involvement, it’s surprising that the bill isn’t considerably larger than 2,000 pages and with a far greater cost.

I openly and candidly admit that any expertise that I may possess about the health care system --- small though it is --- results from being a consumer of it rather than a manager of it. It does seem to me, however, that Congress might better serve the nation if it stepped back, took a deep breath (just like the doctor instructs while holding a stethoscope to your chest), and confined itself to solving the basic, fundamental problem of how best to offer medical insurance to those who don’t have it.

If it is, indeed, true that the overwhelming number of Americans are covered and are content with their plan, why bother them? Why move toward changing a system which has worked reasonably well for many years?

Wouldn’t, say, 200 pages rather than 2,000 be ample space to achieve that goal?

Perhaps, then, Congress could spend some time finding out why Americans can’t get flu shots.

In the meantime, I’m going back to my crossword puzzle. I’m not, however, doing it in ink.


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Recap the weekend

Casey Holdahl By Casey Holdahl
on March 26, 2007 at 10:32 AM, updated March 26, 2007 at 10:48 AM

Here's some of the Blazer-related happenings that transpired over the weekend:

-- The Blazers beat the Hawks in Atlanta (without Zach Randolph). Then lost to the Timberwolves in Minnesota (with Zach Randolph, though not in a starting roll).

-- The news came out that, according to Trail Blazer officials, Zach Randolph's trip to the strip club was simply a pop-in before a red-eye flight to Indiana. That seems reasonable enough.

-- Jarrett Jack's recent slump might have had something to do with off-court personal issues.

-- Gilbert Arenas got into a little trouble with the NBA for wagering with fans during his last game in Portland. He lost both of those bets, by the way.

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◀ The Principal Blog

Posts tagged ‘Not For Profit’

The Seven “403(b) Administrative” Sins (Part 2)

This is my second of three blogs in a series I call the “Seven Administrative Sins,” which I know sounds a little ominous. Yet I’ve found it’s an effective way to point out the mistakes 403(b) plan sponsors make that can put a non-profit plan out of compliance – or turn it into an…

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The Seven “403(b) Administrative” Sins (Part 1)

Despite conventional wisdom that says one shouldn’t discuss religion or politics in social situations, I invariably find myself in conversations about one or both. Thankfully the discussions regarding religion have never touched on something as philosophical as the “Seven Deadly Sins”…

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Maxine Kumin (1925-2014)

Maxine Kumin, a longtime friend of Ploughshares, passed away on February 6th at the age of 88. She published first with us in Spring 1974. It was an excerpt from a journal about raising horses and living in the country, which she continued to do for the rest of her life. In the piece, she wrote: “So it seems I put my trust in the natural cycle, and bend to it. It is so far removed from self-improvement as to be an escape hatch. Nature pays me no attention, but announces the autonomy of everything. Here nothing is good or bad, but is, in spite of.”

kuminIn the forty years since the excerpt appeared, Maxine Kumin edited her own issue (Spring 1988), and published stories, poems, and essays while generously sending along recommendations for books she had enjoyed. Her subjects ranged from country neighbors (“Saga: Four Variations on the Sonnet”) to the death of her friend Anne Sexton (“October, Yellowstone Park”) to the brutality of industrial meat production (“The Whole Hog”).

The introduction to her issue gives a sense of the sly sense of humor that animated much of her work.

Editing a literary magazine—and this is the first time I have undertaken a project so fraught with hubris—turns out to be a little like buying birthday presents for your loved ones. You tend to get them things you really want for yourself. In making selections for this issue I have been ruled by my own passions, even while recognizing that they are eclectic, idiosyncratic, at times downright cantankerous.

In re-reading her work from the journal, a line from a poem in the Spring 1982 issue was particularly resonant: “Speech has left…but not joy.”

Even close to the end
when nothing works except one hand
my brother goes to the Special Cases pool
where cheerful athletes reposition
his puppet bones in a canvas sling
scoot him down the ramp
into tepid water
adjust his flotation collar
and cut him loose.

Speech has left him, but not joy.
I carry that grin
that broad important self-pleasured wink
with me into the April day.

In a poem published nearly three decades later (Spring 2009), “In the Moment,” she writes of her rescue dog, Rosie: “Her heart murmur // will carry her off, no one can say when.” The poem ends:

Meanwhile she is rapt in

the moment, our hearts leap up observing.
Dogs live in the moment, pursuing

that brilliant dragonfly called pleasure.
Only we, sunstruck in this azure

day, must drag along the backpacks
of our past, must peer into the bottom muck

of what’s to come, scanning the plot
for words that say another year, or not.

Over the years, Maxine Kumin created an extraordinary body of work—filled with her passions, politics, and sense of joy—through which she will continue to connect with readers. It has been an honor to have a small part of this work in our pages.

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This past weekend my amazing husband surprised me for my 30th birthday with a trip to San Francisco. Our plan for the past year was to go to Napa with close family and friends but once we found out I was pregnant we decided to cancel the Napa trip, so this was a fantastic alternative. I had never been to San Francisco, and after a long winter in Colorado (my first winter not skiing every weekend), I was ready for some sunshine and a coastal breeze.

MP pic 2

Once the realization of the trip sunk in, I began to wonder how I would feel on the plane, during the trip, and what activities I would enjoy doing at 25 weeks pregnant. Luckily, my husband gave me a week notice so I could plan accordingly and make sure I had clothes that would fit my growing belly.

MP pic 1

Here are my tips for traveling while pregnant:

1.       Try to travel in the 2nd Trimester. Traveling in the 2nd Trimester is a much more pleasant experience than the 1st. The morning sickness/all-day sickness is no longer an issue which makes flying a lot nicer and less like a roller coaster.  You also have your energy back in the 2nd Trimester which makes the vacation a better experience since you have the energy to be active and enjoy your surroundings.

2.       Wear comfortable clothing and shoes (pack light but smart).  This is especially important on the plane, your feet tend to naturally swell when you fly but if you are pregnant the swelling will double. I recommend comfortable sandals or sneakers. In hindsight, I should have borrowed my husband’s compression socks.  While flying I opted for tights, a loose shirt, sweater, and pashmina – this made it easier to breathe. I packed stretchy, breathable clothes and sundresses to ensure I would be comfortable no matter how I felt on any given day (or how big my belly would be on any given day)…… Once you get to your hotel, try and rest and elevate your feet to reduce the swelling.

3.       Flying……  Sit near an aisle seat, this way you can get up and move around to stretch out your body and it will be easier than climbing over people every 20 minutes for a bathroom break. If you can or if you book early, upgrade your seat…more space = more comfort.

4.       Necessities to Stock Up On: Water, Healthy Snacks, and Sunblock.  When traveling, I rarely drink enough water and end up eating something quick and easy. But I am working hard to stay healthy and fit during this pregnancy so I made sure to ALWAYS have a bottle of water on me and light snack. If you didn’t know, your skin is extra sensitive while pregnant so you will burn faster; even if you don’t normally burn, I still recommend applying sunblock.

5.       Stretch before you go to bed and when you wake up.  The plane and hotel bed will definitely make your back and shoulders tight, plus the extra weight from the baby will add extra stress to these tender areas. I HIGHLY recommend stretching for at least 5 to 10 minutes before you go to bed and right when you wake up – trust me, it will do wonders for you!

6.       Give yourself permission to do Nothing or Everything. Normally when my husband and I travel we try to pack as much in as we can and we strive to be active every day, whether it is running, hiking, or biking. However, I have to trust my body when it tells me to slow down on a ride or not go for a morning run! Sometimes, now that I’m pregnant, I’d rather just relax and do nothing. On the other hand you cannot be afraid to be active or have sip of wine if you are pregnant. My favorite day in San Francisco was when we biked over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, followed by a long uphill walk back to our hotel (which really got the blood pumping), followed by an amazing dinner where I sipped on a delicious California wine.

What are your tips or favorite memories from traveling while pregnant?

One Response to My Tips for Traveling While Pregnant

  1. maria says:

    Good tips. I always used compressions socks during my pregnancies, way before they got famous and you can buy now at every running store.
    I moved from one state to the other at the end of my first pregnancy. 7 hours drive. I remember that I had to stop a lot to go to the bathroom and stretch my legs.
    Always had fruits in my lunch bag for healthy snacks.
    BTW, I loved to bike in SF. I did cross the bridge and bike all around town with Pedro.

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A First Look at the New MPC Rockets

MPC, which produced model rocket kits from 1969 to 1978, is coming back. Round 2, a “collectibles” company which has re-issued classic toys and plastic model kits, is producing new model rocket kits under the MPC brand. The new MPC’s first kits are a series of easy-to-build model rocket kits featuring colorful pre-printed body tubes and unique parachute designs which will be available in September of 2012.

Three of the first kits to be released pay tribute to Kiss, the flamboyant rock group which rose to fame in the late 1970s with hits such as “Rock and Roll All Nite.”  The Kiss rockets feature full-color graphics based on classic Kiss albums.  The rockets include color-molded plastic nose cones and fins. The paper body tubes are pre-decorated with images from the album covers. The plastic parachutes feature graphics inspired by the album covers.  Two of the kits also contain self-stick fin decals.

Also being released in September, are three rockets with Star Trek themes – the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, the Klingon Bird-of-Prey, and the U.S.S. Reliant NCC-1864. The Star Trek rocket kits incorporate graphic elements inspired by the fictional spaceships and feature parachutes with unique color graphics.

The six kits being released in September create rockets that are 13” to 20” tall. They fly on standard Estes or Quest motors.

Beginning in January of 2013, Round 2 plans to release additional MPC flying model rocket kits.

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Mariners Fan

A blog written by and for Seattle Mariners fans

Mariners Sail Back Across the Pacific after Japan Odyssey

Mariners Begin their Voyage back to Peoria

As you read this the Mariners are probably flying across the Pacific Ocean to the their temporary Home Port of Peoria after splitting a two-game series with division rival Oakland. Unlike my early voyages across the Pacific which on average lasted nine-12 days depending on the season, our boys will be in the air 12-13 hours. Long enough to relish the moments and experiences they had in Japan for the past week.

There will be good and not so good memories for Eric Wedge and his crew to mull over during the long plane trip before resuming Spring Training for five more games down in the lonely desert. I stayed up and watched part of both games and was struck with the impression that the 2012 team looked eerily similar to the clubs from the past two seasons. Once again we had great starting pitching first from Felix Hernandez then Jason Vargas coupled with a pretty anemic offense. Somehow our guys seem to be set on sabotaging themselves at key junctures of the game either with some dumb base running mistake, chokes by relievers or just not having the killer-instinct and collecting the “Clutch” hits when the game is on the line.

In some ways they remind me of a lot of the current general population here in Seattle ie brainy, self obsessed and lacking the true NW “go for broke spirit”. Rarely have I seen any emotion on the field from the Mariners players in the past couple years but rather just a sort of cool nonchalant approach to the game. I know Eric Wedge must be frustrated with this as he exudes a real passion for the game that so far has not been contagious here in the rainy city.

But of course it is early and it was nice to see Justin Smoak poke that solo dinger last night into the crowd at Tokyo stadium. I will also take away from this series a good feeling knowing the fans in Japan got to finally see their hero Ichiro Suzuki who gave them something to cheer about in the first game when he went 4-5.

I have read some odd comments online from fans across the Nation who wondered why this MLB Season Opener was being played while Spring Training was still in progress and why there was no National TV coverage. Heck even here in Seattle we had to settle for a relayed broadcast from Bellevue by Dave Sims and Mike Blowers from a studio as ROOT Sports tried to do this thing on the cheap. But in another week or so all will be forgotten and this voyage as unique as it was will fade into the memories of our sailors and their water-logged fans in the NW. Go M’s!

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Jeff Engels

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Justin Bieber’s manager stands by troubled star

(Photo by Kevin Mazur/AMA2012/WireImage)

(Photo by Kevin Mazur/AMA2012/WireImage)

Justin Bieber’s longtime manager Scooter Braun has shown his support for the troubled pop star by insisting he will stand by him following his DUI arrest in Florida on Thursday.

The teen superstar is currently free on bail after he was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), resisting arrest without violence and driving with an expired driver’s license following an alleged drag race on the roads of Miami Beach.

The 19-year-old is said to have cursed at cops after they stopped his rented Lamborghini sports car and admitted to having smoked marijuana, consumed alcohol and taken prescription drugs prior to his arrest.

Subsequent rumors suggested Bieber’s representatives are unhappy with the singer following the headline-grabbing incident, but the star’s longtime manager Braun has now spoken out to insist he is supporting his embattled charge.

In a post on Twitter, he writes, “Justin Bieber love you and I will act in the manner of someone who truly cares. That is all I have to say. Thanks for all those concerned (sic).”

He adds, “Been a long day. Bottom line is we are defined by how we handle adversity. Be there when it counts. Love fully in good times and bad.”

Braun recently spoke out about his strained relationship with the singer, telling The Hollywood Reporter that he has struggled to control the rebellious teenager: “When Justin was younger, it was, ‘Keep him out of trouble, stop him from falling down’… When I try to do that now, he’s resentful, he pushes away and rebels… I saw the rebellion, I saw our relationship being hurt. We were struggling in talking to each other because I wasn’t having conversations about anything good anymore. It was constantly calling to say, ‘No!’”

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Seattle p_i_newmedia

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The Best Thermos Ever!

By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world . If you think the perfect winter day involves snow sports and hot beverages, then you’ve obviously looked into thermoses. You may even own a few. But let me ask you this…can you pour boiling water into your thermos one day, […] [Read More]


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Firefighters battle bees to help pregnant woman

Crews from the Kent Fire Department and Medic 1 had to deal with a swarm of angry bees this morning after a woman crashed her car.

The 30-year-old Federal Way woman, who is eight months pregnant, was driving south on the West Valley Highway when she felt faint.

Her car veered off the highway in the 25800 block. The car went through a fence, over several bee hives, nipped a shed and finally hit a small cinder-block building.

The aroused bees were not happy. But emergency crews managed to get the woman out of her car quickly and to a safe location away from the swarm.

Medics treated her for minor injuries, and she was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.

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Scott Sunde

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Trevor Griffey

Trevor Griffey is the publisher of the Olympia Newswire and the Project Coordinator and co-founder of the Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project.

Memphis Commercial Appeal Assisted FBI’s COINTELPRO Against Black Nationalists

The Memphis Commercial Appeal made international news earlier this year when it broke the story that Ernest Withers, a trusted civil rights movement activist, had been a paid informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Commercial Appeal has pursued the story aggressively, suing the FBI for the release of the FBI’s informant file on Withers, as well as creating a special section of its web site called “Ernest Withers: Exposed.”

But while they are making Freedom of Information Act requests, the Commercial Appeal’s reporters might also want to request FBI documents about their own publication’s role in the FBI’s campaign to discredit and divide civil rights and black power movement leaders.

According to documents from the FBI’s counterintelligence program (COINTELPRO) against “Black Nationalist Hate-Type Groups,” the FBI cultivated a contact at the Memphis Commercial Appeal in 1969 through which to spread malicious rumors about two Black Power organizations in Memphis: the Invaders and the Black Knights.

According to a February 26, 1969 memo from the Memphis field office to FBI headquarters,

Due to the success of the counterintelligence program whereby the Memphis Office has been furnishing a reliable newspaper source of the Memphis Office information regarding the black militant organization known as the Invaders, as set out hereinafter, the Memphis Office is giving consideration to increasing this type of counterintelligence activity and a preliminary contact has been made with a representative of the Memphis “Commercial Appeal” who has always been cooperative with this Bureau in an effort to determine his interest in writing articles, exposing the Invaders organization and the Black Knights organization such as the articles that have been written recently and appeared in the Memphis “Press-Scimitar,” the afternoon daily newspaper. This contact appears to be receptive and, if after the next contact with this individual he appears cooperative, Bureau authority will be requested to “leak” information of a derogatory nature regarding the Invaders and other black nationalist militants to this reporter.

The FBI’s proposal to use the Commercial Appeal in this way was in no way unusual. The FBI developed its COINTELPRO tactic of using receptive reporters in the news media to leak malicious information about people who exercised their First Amendment rights as part of its campaign against the Communist Party in the 1950s and 1960s. But in the late 1960s, the FBI extended those efforts to target the “white hate” groups, the New Left movement (especially college students), and “black nationalist hate-type organizations.”

When FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover announced the creation of the COINTELPRO against Black Nationalism in a August 25, 1967 memo to all FBI field offices, he said that the program’s intent was “to expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize the activities of black nationalist, hate-type organizations and groupings, their leadership, the spokesmen, membership, and supporters, and to counter their propensity for violence and civil disorder.”

The manipulation of the news media was always part of this program. As Hoover explained in the same document,

the pernicious background of such groups, their duplicity, and devious maneuvers must be exposed to public scrutiny where such publicity will have a neutralizing effect… When an opportunity is apparent to disrupt or neutralize black nationalist, hate-type organizations through the cooperation of established local news media contacts or through such contact with sources available to the Seat of Government, in every instance careful attention must be given to the proposal to insure the targeted group is disrupted, ridiculed, or discredited through the publicity and not merely publicized.

Did the FBI use the Commercial Appeal as part of this effort? The document that suggests that the FBI might have done so raises more question than it answers. Who was the FBI’s contact at the Commerical Appeal that it had previously worked with? Did the contact help the FBI plant “derogatory” stories about the Invaders and Black Knights? And if so what effect did the stories have on the movement?

Unfortunately, the FBI’s release of its Headquarters files on COINTELPRO-Black Nationalism were heavily redacted in the 1980s. In a May 21, 1969 memo, the Memphis field office bragged to FBI headquarters that the Invaders’

… operations are being seriously hampered by the distrust and lack of confidence in the distrust and lack of confidence in the Invader organization by the rank and file Negro resident in Memphis… The articles written by [redacted] depicting the Invaders as a criminal group of thugs has been most beneficial to the Memphis PD [police department] inasmuch as many Negro citizens have called in to the PD and furnishing information re Invaders almost without exception stating that after reading the articles by [redacted] they are now convinced that the Invaders are only interested in criminal activity and are not interested in elevating the Negro race.

However, in a May 8, 1969 FBI document published online by the Commercial Appeal itself, the puzzle is solved. In that document, the FBI claims that it used the Commercial Appeal to plant negative stories about the Invaders:

Cooperative reporters on the Commercial Appeal, daily morning newspaper, and Press Scimitar, daily afternoon newspaper, Memphis, have written a series of stories pointing out the violence-prone nature of the Invaders, their vent [sic] toward engaging in criminal activities, these stories being written in vane to tend to discredit the Invaders in the community.

According to the FBI, its Memphis field office destroyed its file on COINTELPRO-Black Nationalism on June 11, 1991.

Trevor Griffey

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James Franco sued by former teacher

james franco

Actor James Franco has been hit with a lawsuit by his former university film instructor in an ongoing legal dispute.

Jose Angel Santana took court action last year against New York University (NYU), alleging he was unfairly dismissed from his job after giving the “127 Hours” star a ‘D’ grade for cutting class.

Now he has lodged papers at Manhattan Supreme Court against the actor himself, demanding unspecified damages following comments Franco made in April about his time at the university.

Santana tells the New York Post, “I didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of those falsehoods. I was outraged that someone with his attendance record at NYU had the audacity to make those statements.”

Franco allegedly missed 12 of Santana’s 14 filmmaking classes during his time studying at the university, but he alleges Santana is wrong to assert he was fired from the institution for giving him a low grade.

Categories: James Franco
Daily Dish


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Category: wireless

‘Twisted light’ revs wireless bandwidth to 2.5 terabits

Imagine downloading 66 DVDs in a second. Now scientists at the University of Southern California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Tel Aviv University have worked out a way to do just that. The research team’s quantum leap uses “orbital angular momentum” or “twisted light” to boost wireless bandwidth to an incredible 2.5 terabits of data. […] …
Categories: BBC , Endgadget , JPL , Nature , Tech


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Slimming Solutions LTD

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New weight loss pill is approved

New weight loss pill is approvedA new weight loss pill that can play a role in helping people to slim down has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The healthcare body has ruled that Arena Pharmaceutical’s new anti-obesity pill Belviq is safe for use, after clinical trials involving patients resulted in weight loss.

The creation of the pill follows calls from doctors for new weight loss tablets to help ease pressure on resources and give people a means of supplementing their slimming techniques.

Commenting on the approval, the FDA’s drug centre director, Dr Janet Woodcock, said that it provides an effective treatment option when used responsibly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Dr Louis Aronne, director of the weight loss program at Weill-Cornell Medical College, added that it could be an important step in a new line of treatments for overweight people.

“The way these things tend to work is you have some people who do extremely well and other people don’t lose any weight at all. But if we had ten medicines that were all different and worked like this, we would have a real field,” he concluded.

Have you considered using weight loss pills to help you slim?ADNFCR-2965-ID-801396307-ADNFCR

Published on July 25, 2012.

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News & Views Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Stanton’s Stocking Stuffers Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Stanton’s has lots of music-related gift items. From forty cent pencils and up, we have purses, coin purses, handbags, tote bags, mugs, sports bottles, ties, winter caps, gloves and scarves lots of jewelry including watches, composer busts, and more.

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Retail Gasoline Prices and Crude Oil — The Market is Efficient

A recurring comment from many people has been a believe that there is no relationship between crude oil prices and refined gasoline prices.  They believe they are taken advantage of when buying gasoline.  In simple English, they want to know if consumers are getting ripped off at the pump.

To find out if that is true, monthly average gasoline prices since January 1994 were statistically compared to monthly average crude oil prices.  The graph shows a relatively tight relationship between the two.  As shown, there are times when gasoline prices are less than anticipated and other times when prices are slightly greater.  This makes sense as not only is there the cost of the crude oil as input, but also the cost of refining, delivery, retailing and taxes.  The last new U.S. refinery was built in 1976, although many have been expanded in recent years.  Today there are 149 operable refineries in the U.S. with a daily capacity of 17.6 million barrels.  Not all gasoline is created equal—and not just the octane rating.  Many geographic areas are required to sell reformulated (oxygenated) gasoline that reduces emissions (Implementation of the Reformulated Gasoline Program).  Some of these markets include Houston and Southern California, for example.  These blends typically cost more to produce and hence retail for more at the pump.

A regression was run using retail gasoline  prices, all grades and all formulations as the dependent variable and crude oil prices as the independent variable.  The model is highly statistically significant with an overall F statistic of 5,715, and has statistically significant t-statistics on the intercept and coefficient and an adjusted R Square of 0.964228.  Crude oil prices alone since 1994 have explained 96.4 percent of all variability in gasoline costs.

Using the model (shown in the table below), a grid was developed relating retail gasoline prices to crude oil costs.  Crude oil at $100 should equate to $3.50 per gallon (which is extremely close today – November 15, 2011—with an average of all three grades of gasoline at $3.55 (daily fuel gauge report) and the spot oil price at $99.37 per barrel.  At $150 per barrel, gasoline should be cost $4.92 per gallon.

So are consumers getting gouged at the gas pump relative to crude oil prices?  Not at all.  You can go ahead and argue that crude oil costs are too high, but recall that oil is priced on a global market.

The next question frequently posed by consumers is the relationship between regular and premium gasoline costs.  A higher-octane fuel allows an engine to run at a higher compression ratio producing more power—and that fuel costs more to produce.  Refiners do vary the octane levels throughout the various seasons and across locations due to relative  temperatures.  The following chart shows the relative costs of regular and premium formulations.

Ten years ago premium gasoline cost an average 18.1 cents more per gallon than regular (a spread of 12.3 percent.  Today, premium costs 24.6 cents more per gallon than regular, a spread of just 7.2 percent.  Even the spread on premium gasoline is economically logical.

A sideline from the AAA site referenced regarding oil prices is the comparative cost of E-85 at $3.08 per gallon (15 percent ethanol). On the surface E-85 looks very affordable compared to Regular ($3.41), Mid-Range ($3.56) and Premium ($3.69).  E-85, however, has much less energy per gallon (fewer British Thermal Units) and that means that a gallon of E-85 will not fuel a vehicle for as many miles as a gallon of gasoline.  The AAA adjusts the E-85 to allow for the reduced energy content and restates an adjusted effective cost of $4.05 per gallon. That makes E-85 the highest-priced gasoline-based fuel to power your vehicle. A gallon of diesel was $3.97 per the AAA.

While I know this is not truly real estate related, the costs do impact consumers of real estate as energy costs essentially come out upstream of housing costs.  While people can still complain about the costs of crude oil, they need to recall that oil is priced in a global market place.

Bottom line is that there is some economic consistency in gasoline costs and crude oil costs.

There is one thing guaranteed, however, and that is that all of these prices will change.  And long-run trend will be up.  And that means that consumers will have less to spend on all other expenses.

  1. Rey Griffth

    My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content for yourself? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write concerning here. Again, awesome blog!

    1. Ted C. Jones Post author

      Appreciate the kind words. You are more than welcome to respond to a blog or suggest a topic but we do not use guest writers. Enough people have offered I would not have to write any more.Thanks, Ted

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text:
Tick tock

Lindsay Kramer | By Lindsay Kramer | The Post-Standard
Follow on Twitter
on October 17, 2007 at 1:39 PM, updated October 17, 2007 at 2:05 PM

Syracuse forward Zenon Konopka was officially put on NHL waivers at noon on Wednesday. If he is not claimed by another NHL team by noon Thursday, he can be assigned to Syracuse.

A story in the Ottawa Sun newspaper said the Senators might be interested in Konopka. As of Wednesday afternoon, Konopka said he didn't know anything about it.

"This is probably the most interesting part of hockey off-ice I've been a part of,'' Konopka said. "It's a weird situation to be in. Your life changes off other people's decisions.''

Konopka got official medical clearance on Tuesday to play again after recovering from surgery on his right hand.

Monday and Tuesday were his first full practices with the Crunch.

"It's nice to be back in the dressing room, practicing with real players,'' Konopka said.

Real players? Injured forward Alexandre Picard, who still has to skate by himself after practice, was sitting a couple of lockers away from Konopka. Konopka looked his way.

"Yeah, Picard's a fake player,'' Konopka joked.

Konopka, of course, still has to clear NHL waivers before he plays with Syracuse.

Konopka seems awfully fired up about playing the Bulldogs on Friday, and the reasons go deeper than just his return. I asked him what he has against Hamilton, beyond them being the Calder Cup champs.

"I hated them before that,'' he said. "They just seem cocky to me. It seems like they came into our rink and tried to push us around.''

- Goalie Adam Munro is roommates with forward Derek Dorsett. Dorsett is recoving from stress fractures in his leg.

Part of Dorsett's treatment is to swim. Monday, Munro went with him. I asked Munro who was faster.

"Oh, I think I am,'' Munro said. "I beat him by two body lengths. He has a zig-zag pattern when he swims. It takes a lot of time off his run.''

So maybe Munro has a career as a swimmer if this goalie thing doesn't work out?

"I don't think I'm going to win a gold (medal) any time soon,'' he said. "Maybe if they have a doggie paddle run.''

Lindsay Kramer


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College football kickoff: Big Ten battle, Top 25 buzz, matchups and picks

Michael Potter | National Desk By Michael Potter | National Desk
on September 29, 2012 at 9:35 AM, updated September 29, 2012 at 9:54 AM

Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Saturday of college football:

The Big Buzz

No. 14 Ohio State at No. 20 Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. EST

The Big Ten as a whole looks shaky this season. With Michigan falling out of the rankings after last week's loss to Notre Dame, the Buckeyes and the Spartans are the cream of a wilting Big Ten crop.

When a bowl-banned Ohio State squad becomes your standard-bearer, writes's Dennis Dodd, you know your conference is in serious trouble:

It's almost too easy these days to rip the Big Ten. Still, its performance through four weeks remains perhaps the story of the first quarter of the season. Michigan set the tone on opening night against Alabama. There are few signature wins, none against Notre Dame in three tries. There have been only six victories in 15 tries against BCS conference schools, three of those by Northwestern.

While it's true that the conference has been a disappointment so far this season, Saturday's showdown between the Buckeyes and the Spartans is certainly worth watching.

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller seems a bit hazy on last year's matchup, and that's probably a good thing. Making just his second career start, Miller finished with just 56 yards passing and minus-27 yards rushing in the Buckeyes' 10-7 loss to the Spartans at Ohio Stadium.

But you can bet Michigan State's defense will show plenty of respect for a much-improved Miller on Saturday. Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio made it very clear this week that he understands the dual threat that Miller poses:

"He's a very exciting player, dynamic player, and he makes them go," Dantonio said. "He's a tailback who can throw in the backfield. He runs with power. He'll spin on contact, he'll juke you if you set up on him a little bit."

Likewise, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had nothing but praise for Michigan State star running back Le'Veon Bell, comparing the nation's second-leading rusher to a more dynamic version of former Wisconsin Heisman-winner Ron Dayne:

"Even more athletic," Meyer said of Bell. "A guy that's extremely powerful, times up his blocks very well and runs through tackles. You see athleticism that usually people that size don't have."

But Ohio State's Johnathan Hankins isn't shrinking from the challenge. The junior defensive tackle, when asked which part of Bell he would go after first, told an Ohio radio station that, "I'm going to try to rip his head off." A tip for Le'Veon: When a 322-pound man threatens you with decapitation, probably best to take it seriously.

Top games

In additional to the Ohio State-Michigan State tilt, Top 25 teams are involved in several other compelling matchups this weekend:

  • No. 25 Baylor at No. 9 West Virginia, 12 p.m. EST
  • Tennessee at No. 5 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. EST
  • No. 6 South Carolina at Kentucky, 7 p.m. EST
  • No. 12 Texas at Oklahoma State, 7:50 p.m. EST
  • Wisconsin at No. 22 Nebraska, 8 p.m. EST
  • No. 18 Oregon State at Arizona, 10 p.m. EST

Who they're picking

  •'s forecasters predict a good weekend for Oregon teams, with No. 2 Oregon walloping Washington State and No. 18 Oregon State just sliding past Arizona. Their Big Ten bloggers, meanwhile, are split on the outcome of Ohio State-Michigan State.
  • Over at, six of their eight experts pick Michigan State to beat Ohio State, two pick Oklahoma State to upset No. 12 Texas, and all but one expects No. 18 Oregon State to fall to unranked Arizona.

What they're saying

  • Oregon State's 27-20 win over UCLA last week - its second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent - officially launched a statewide debate over which Pac-12 team is the best in Oregon. Have the Beavers really been more impressive than the 4-0 Ducks?
Markus Wheaton,Tyler AndersonOregon State Beavers wide receiver Markus Wheaton, right, celebrates his touchdown with teammate fullback Tyler Anderson during the first half of their NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oregon State's matchup against Arizona this week could go a long way toward settling the matter. Oregon, even with a subpar offensive performance, easily handled Arizona last week, 49-0. Oregon State gets a shot at the Wildcats on Saturday, along with an opportunity to approximate the Ducks' impressive performance against a common opponent.

The Oregonian's John Canzano is already looking ahead to a potentially epic Civil War showdown at the end of the season:

Oregon has to continue to improve, and believe that the end-game isn't just a conference championship, but the big crystal. Oregon State has to continue to fight, and demonstrate that their start this season isn't an aberration.

The Civil War is still two months away.

Already, I can't wait.

“It still looks like he’s skipping rocks out there to me,” Gilbert said. “But that’s not my concern. That’s probably more a concern of the defensive backs. My concern is hitting him. I don’t care what he throws like. I’m not trying to let him throw at all.

“He still can’t throw. I’m just going to say it. He still can’t throw. He’s not going to beat us with his arm.”

  • Despite the fact that last week's narrow escape against Auburn cost the Tigers in the polls, LSU coach Les Miles says it was exactly what his team needed. Miles told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that, after drawing four personal fouls and eight total penalties against Auburn, his players learned the importance of playing smart football for the good of the team:

"The understanding of how important it is was really brought home Saturday night at Auburn. I have to think our guys have responded in a number of ways. The understanding is fundamental to winning and if you want to be a team in the back end of the season to play for everything, you're going to have to learn that."

"After coming off an emotional victory against Clemson, the first time they beat a ranked team at home at night in front of the nation, to see the great product that they put out there offensively, they're gonna have a letdown. They're primed for a letdown against South Florida."

And if fending off the upset isn't enough for the Seminoles, USA Today's Mike Lopresti saddles Florida State - along with Oregon - with the sizable burden of ending the SEC's six-year national championship reign:

Oregon and Florida State, you both know the score. How lots of people hope for change, since all January has come to mean to them is snow, sleet and Nick Saban posing with the national championship trophy…

If not you two to muck up the works, then who?

  • As No. 9 West Virginia prepares to take on No. 24 Baylor in the Mountaineers' Big 12 debut, the school is doing all it can to save innocent couches from abuse. The student union has released a public service announcement discouraging the popular - and bizarre - campus tradition of post-victory couch burning. So remember kids, "celebrate with class" because "burning a couch isn't cool."

Heisman talk

  •'s Cory McCartney still has West Virginia's Geno Smith atop his Heisman rankings, but fellow quarterbacks E.J. Manuel of Florida State and AJ McCarron of Alabama are rising. For McCarron, the biggest obstacle to serious Heisman consideration may be the national perception that he's steady and reliable - not exactly Heisman buzz words:
E.J. ManuelFlorida State quarterback E.J. Manuel (3) runs for a 28-yard gain during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Clemson on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)

Despite matching Georgia's Aaron Murray with 10 touchdown passes this season -- which puts McCarron on pace to shatter Greg McElroy's single-season record of 20 set in 2010 and keeps him in line to break John Parker Wilson's career record of 47 -- the Crimson Tide's redshirt junior can't seem to shake the "game manager" label.

  • Both and also lead their Heisman watch with Geno Smith, but have E.J. Manuel jumping into the race at No. 2 after a big performance against Clemson last week. Here is's take:

Manuel jumped back onto the Heisman stage in a big way. In a game that had ACC and potential national championship ramifications, Manuel bordered on brilliant … Manuel won't have too many opportunities to shine on the big stage this season, so it's imperative he take full advantage of each opportunity. Against Clemson, he certainly did.


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What’s a good way to learn some Oracle internals every day?

Sometimes when an attendee describes me some totally weird problem during a seminar, I am immediately able to answer something like “Hey this looks like a bug related to this Oracle configuration and can be influenced by xyz”.

And then people ask me “How the hell do you know all this stuff?”

Well, I haven’t been bitten by all of these bugs myself, but I have been doing something for many years, almost every day… reading my email!

Oh, and additionally I have configured Metalink to send me daily updates about new/updated notes, forum articles and… bug descriptions!

The last part is very important. Bug descriptions tell you something about new bugs found (and old bugs rediscovered) and sometimes their details tell you an interesting piece or two about Oracle internals related to them.

And if these descriptions come to your mailbox every day, you catch a detail or two every day. Of course this assumes you are interested enough learning this stuff and take the time to actually open and read the bug descriptions you see interesting enough.

And if you do this for months or years, you will slowly start putting all these details together in your brain (without even noticing it yourself). Things will start to make sense to you over time, thanks to learning a little detail here and there every day. That way you also learn from other people’s experiences and when this bug (or something similar) happens to you, you can recognize it more easily.

I’m not saying here that all you need to do is read Metalink, but keeping an eye of the current bugs + their internal explanations by support people provides icing on the cake. Note that the bug descriptions often contain interesting information which you don’t see documented elsewhere, such some function names and their meanings, undocumented x$ table information and of course new undocumented parameters (which I don’t set anywhere, but do further research on).

I’ve had the habit of reading the bug descriptions for so much time so I haven’t even remembered to mention this to anyone if people ask where to learn internals. But Dominic Brooks and Coskan Gundogar have recently written about this so I thought I should share this with my blog audience too!

You can configure this by going to Settings page in Metalink and configuring the “Headlines/Hot topics via E-Mail” setting. The relevant MOS Note (actually a videa) is this one: Use My Oracle Support Hot Topics Email to subscribe to Support Product News, SRs, Bugs, etc. and events so that you Never Miss an Important Update – [VIDEO] (Doc ID 793436.1) (MOS login needed).

This entry was posted in Cool stuff, Oracle, Productivity and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

11 Responses to What’s a good way to learn some Oracle internals every day?

  1. Carol D says:

    Great idea, Tanel! I have often picked up tips that way but never thought to have those emailed to me! Thanks!

  2. Prem says:

    thanks for that tip … Tanel.
    Never thought “bug descriptions”
    is a place to learn internals.

  3. coskan says:

    Do you still get the mails after MOS?

    I start not to get them

  4. coskan says:

    I think I found it. I needed to re-configure my settings form
    top navigation>more>settings>hot topics email

    it lets you focus on spesific products as well.

    Did not get an email yet:)

  5. Jared says:

    I haven’t yet figured out how to do this with MOS – I did get these emails prior to the ‘upgrade’.

    A bit of serendipity – I added the bugs section to my MOS homepage, clicked on a bug.

    The bug (6966721) turned out to be one I opened an SR for 1+ years ago.

    Support could never duplicate it – I could duplicate it with regularity.

  6. Jared says:

    Found it – MOS can send emails as MetaLink did, you need to go to settings and configure Hot Topics Email.

  7. Tropos says:

    with MOS, it does not work for me anymore. Here’s a picture of my settings:
    Any idea?

  8. Tanel Poder says:

    Hmm, it should work like that… I assume that the email address is correct there and metalink mails are not filtered out by spam filter.

    I think you might need to raise a support request asking for this…

  9. Tropos says:

    I was just told by oracle support that this is a bug. It will be fixed later :)

  10. Hi Tanel,

    Thanks for this tip.

  11. Sokrates says:

    I never succeeded to get Emails
    filed a Service Request on this on Jan 13, 2010
    SR Number 3-1311080861
    they told me on Jan 26th it would be a known issue being adressed to Development
    On June 7th they told me the issue had been fixed.
    I still do not get hot topics Emails …

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no-bake but must-make cookies

My absolute favorite cookie in the world is the chocolate no-bake cookie. I can’t remember a holiday without them… and to be honest they are the “go to” cookie in my house when we’re craving something sweet and simply don’t want to wait for anything to bake. You can even eat them right out of the saucepan… not that I’ve done that before. {wink} And I know they’re not much to look at, but trust me. You won’t be disappointed!

You’ll need:

½ cup (1 stick) butter (I often add a little less)
2 cups granulated sugar
½ cup milk
4 tablespoons cocoa
½ cup peanut butter (I sometimes add more!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (splurge for the real extract; it’s worth it)
3 cups quick-cooking oats (I sometimes add a little less depending on how much peanut butter I use)

Quick and easy steps:

  1. Mix the sugar and cocoa in a saucepan until smooth.
  2. Add milk and stir.
  3. Lay stick of softened butter on top of the chocolate mixture, turn the stove on low and allow butter to melt.
  4. Bring to a rolling boil, let boil for 1 minute and remove from heat.
  5. Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla until smooth.
  6. Stir first two cups of oats in and then add third a little at a time. (Remember: The heat of the mixture is what cooks the oats so don’t go too slowly. Plus, they set very quickly so spoon them as soon as the oats are in!)
  7. Use tablespoon to drop onto wax paper-lined baking sheets.

As always, I hope you’re inspired!

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  1. 2

    I literally saw your post this morning, got up and made them rofl… we are having a gingerbread building party today, figured these would be an excellent addition! Have not tasted cool yet, but the hot taste was YUMMY! Accidentally bought crunchy peanut butter the other day but I think it worked ok! and I SOOOO agree about real vanilla!

    hugs! Kim

  2. 4

    Julie Savard says

    Hi, this is very nice recepe!
    But would you suggest me something to replace penut butter?.. for a little one who is allergic…

    • 5

      Julie – we also make them with almond butter. My son is allergic to peanuts, but almonds are lower on the scale and he’s allowed to have them. Thanks so much for stopping in and good luck with your little one!

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text:
Taylor joins an elite list on his Notts debut

Nottinghamshire’s James Taylor became the tenth batsman to score a century on his first-class debut for the county when he compiled an undefeated 101 against Loughborough MCCU at Trent Bridge.

His second innings score was in stark contrast to the opening day of the match when he was dismissed by the first delivery he had faced.

After bouncing back with a ton, the 22-year-old England Lions captain was understandably delighted. “I’m obviously very pleased to have got a century on debut,” he said. “I just wanted to spend a decent amount of time in the middle and even when I’d got to thirty I was quite happy with how I was hitting it.”

Taylor had been 61 not out overnight but had put aside any thoughts of a three-figure score. “I just wanted to bat for time, hit some balls and get some practice in ahead of the Championship opener on Thursday. I wasn’t really looking too far beyond that but was pretty pleased with the way I was hitting it.”

Making the most of his opportunity, Taylor admitted that the first day of the game had been a pretty desperate day for him. “It’s never nice getting out first ball,” he said. “It was a decent delivery to be fair, although I should probably have got a bigger stride in. To then spend the rest of the day thinking about the runs you should be out there scoring wasn’t a nice feeling.”

To make matters worse from a personal point of view, Taylor’s first innings dismissal was followed by a massive 303-run fourth wicket stand between Neil Edwards and Riki Wessels, the sixth highest in the county’s history.

“I was so pleased for those two lads”, said Taylor. “They way they played and to put on so many runs was just awesome. It was a great day for the club but a shame I hadn’t made a contribution.”

That was put right in emphatic style, however, as Taylor brought up his own century from just 124 deliveries, with 15 fours.

His name is now added to the following list of nine other players who have also recorded a century on their Nottinghamshire debuts: Freddie Stocks, Keith Miller, Chris Broad, Mark Crawley, Jonathan Wileman, Jimmy Adams, Greg Blewett, David Hussey and Steven Mullaney.

Nottinghamshire declared their second innings as soon as Taylor reached his hundred, with an overall advantage of 670. Loughborough MCCU had reached 28 for 0 when heavy showers brought a premature conclusion to the contest.

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Post-Star Readers Reject Sweeney Comeback

Asked whether Republican John Sweeney shouldÂ try to wrest his 20th CD seat back from Democratic U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2008, 59 percent of respondents to a Post-Star Web poll responded: “No way, no how.”

The three-day poll drew 972 responses, which the paper said is unusually high.

Another 149, or 15 percent, answered simply “no,” while 18 percent (179) said Sweeney should “absolutely” make a go at seeking to reclaim his old job.

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Here And Now

Happy Columbus Day! There will be light blogging today (and no CapTon show tonight, for you local viewers) due to the holiday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will be marching in the Columbus Day Parade in NYC at noon. He’ll be shadowed by reporters who will no doubt ask for an update about the PEF contract talks, which weren’t going well as of Friday.

The post-recession recession.

Some religious organizations have joined the Occupy Wall Street protest.

Leaders are emerging from the leaderless group of protestors.

Demonstrators marched a golden calf through the streets of NYC, while Herman Cain called them “un-American.”

Three protest newcomers tell their stories.

New York and Colorado are battling for a GE solar plant that would bring 400 good-paying jobs to whichever state wins this economic development tug-of-war.

Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman writes dissents from his own court’s decisions far more than his predecessors did.

With his tongue firmly in cheek, Casey Seiler suggests Rudy Giuliani would be best off following Sarah Palin’s lead and “unshackling” himself in 2012.

Rep. Michael Grimm is “pretty confident” his ally, Giuliani, won’t be running next fall, and so endorsed Mitt Romney.

NYC Councilman Vincent Gentile, a Brooklyn Democrat, might be interested in challenging Grimm next fall.

Obama-Clinton in 2012 speculation won’t die.

Senate GOP attorney David Lewis is not billing the majority for his services in the prison gerrymandering lawsuit, though he does continue to have an outside practice. (Second item).

A TU letter-to-the editor calls the governor “coldhearted” and not big-D Democratic for his refusal to support the millionaire’s tax.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is committed to pushing for the millionaire’s tax, but won’t hold up the budget to get it. (Not that he has much choice with the all-or-nothing budget extender option in Cuomo’s arsenal).

Ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner is back at the gym, pumping iron to maintain the physique that so many people have seen.

The Schenectady Gazette is reviewing its security procedures after a “suicide by cop” incident this weekend.

Residents of tony Bedford are fighting over whether to pave their charming yet high-maintenance dirt roads.

The Post follows the DN’s lead in praising outgoing Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward, but also says his legacy will hinge on the results of a still-in-process audit.

A Nassau County taxpayer is suing over the local Legal Aid Society’s decision to represent a retired NYC school official for free despite the fact that he receives a $90,000-a-year pension.

NY is providing grants to help low-income college students.

The Democrat and Chronicle sides with medical professionals calling for more study on the impacts of hydrofracking on public health.

Now that it’s 44-day strike is over, the HTC has changed its tune about the Central Park Boathouse.

Sen. Chuck Schumer is trying to end the so-called “gray market” for scare cancer and heart medication.

The SUNY Research Foundation settled a lawsuit for $30,000 with a former employee who alleged she was fired for questioning doctored Medicaid reimbursement audits.

In tiny town of Sheldon, “bipartisanship” is more than just a word.

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Wunsapana's Aslan BIG E Llama Show 2014.  Grand Champion Heavy Wool Male, Best in Show Male, Best Owned and Bred.

Farmlife Summer Recap

There are so many blogs out there now, that I know I’ve been lost within the masses.  I don’t write about sex, politics, murder, meat consumption, and all the rest that that suck people in….frenzy-like until the point of whatever those posts are about is lost within the comments and bickering.  I have written about […] [Read More]
Photo from 'Life After Cows'.  Marianne wrote:  "One last pic of Broadway, my favorite cow, and probably the best one I ever bred.
I miss her the most."

When farming is your life….and then it’s gone.

Takes about 3 minutes to sell a cow, takes about a life time to build a herd to sell.  – Ivor Jones. A few years back, I met Marianne and her daughter, Liz, in the parking lot of  Tractor Supply in Cobleskill, NY – I was bringing them chickens.  Marianne and I met via the […] [Read More]
may 31 field trip hd

Suburban Chickens – The Zoning Board – and…what I had to say!

A family in suburban Guilderland wants to raise a few hens – for all the right reasons: eggs, an educational tool for their children, waste for their gardens, and the simple joys that the antics of chickens provide.   They had done their research and provided an excellent presentation. Their neighbors are in opposition. I […] [Read More]

Can someone please explain this to me? Farmer Faces $2 Million in Fines…

The story came out on FOX News last night.  I am …. flabbergasted, and a little scared. Quote from the story:  ““Let me get this straight,” Steve Doocy questioned on Fox and Friends, “You are in the business of selling farm products and you get in trouble for selling farm products?!” I was able to speak […] [Read More]
Photo by Cole Garside.

Canadian Gov’t to throw 85 yr old farmer off his farm.

  I want to scream and cry at the same time.  This video gave me such an agonizing feeling of defeat, almost like accepting the death of a loved one. This story is from Canada (be sure to watch the video), but it happens all the time here too.  How terrible a world we live […] [Read More]

Come On, Guilderland – Revisiting the Chicken Revolution!

I received an email the other day: “Hello Teri – I was hoping you could give me information regarding pet chickens in Guilderland. I recently moved to the area & would like to have a few as pets, but it appears they are currently illegal in Guilderland. I would like to help change that, but […] [Read More]

Guest: Cecilia Tkaczyk…farmer for senator!

I first met Teri when mutual farm friends suggested she could help me out. I was in the middle of lambing season and had a baby lamb that was rejected by her mother and needed help bottle-feeding her. Teri was able to take her for a long weekend and named her Mable – (she blogged […] [Read More]

WHAT????? Not zoned for a pet rabbit? Town says TWO ACRES are required!

I’ve heard stupid things before, but this latest is at the top – THE TOP – of the list.  I hope the family is granted a variance, and I REALLY hope the Town of North Haven gets its act together and changes the zoning law.  I know bunnies make a LOT of noise, but really…. […] [Read More]


text:
Special privileges not wanted

Coy Mathis, beautiful girl

Coy Mathis, age 6, has captured the hearts and minds of the entire nation, if not the world.

Why the attention? She needs to pee in peace.

Coy, a girl, should use the girls’ restroom at her school, and her parents are being forced to sue to make that happen.

Coy is a transgender child; she was pronounced a boy at her birth based on her genitals, but she announced herself  a girl from a very early age.

Renate, Mary and I founded New York Citizens for Transgender Rights (NYCTR) to advocate for the Gender Equality Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA).

We are working for this change because brave children like Coy Mathis live in a world ill equipped to protect her. She and other transgender individuals need GENDA.

How will GENDA help?

GENDA will add “gender identity or expression” to a long list of those protected against discrimination based on prejudice. These include prejudice based on age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, and sex.  Legal discrimination against these groups of people was ended by legislation. And the world just keeps on spinning.

Examples of concerns about providing civil rights protections to transgender individuals:

Dr. James Sears does not believe Coy should use the girls’ room because most boys that age walk around with their pants down and penises showing after they use the restroom. Unbelievable behavior in public!

A friend asked, “What if a person showed up at a restaurant wearing nothing but stilettos and a jockstrap claiming that is how they express their gender identity? Illegal behavior!

And– my all time favorite– groups like the Family Research Council argue that allowing transwomen to use female-assigned bathrooms will make it “impossible for a young girl to determine whether or not the man in the restroom is a ‘peeping tom,’ a rapist or a pedophile.” More illegal behavior!

These examples have two things in common.

They have nothing whatever do to with a person being transgender.

They include  false assumptions and fear that protecting transgender people will cause other people to behave badly or illegally.

GENDA will not give anyone carte blanche to behave badly or illegally. Just as the Voting Rights act didn’t usher in a wave of voter fraud, and just as the Violence Against Women Act didn’t subjugate husbands under their wives.

GENDA is about giving protection from discrimination in housing, employment, health care, etc. to those who need protection from discrimination based on prejudice!

These worlds keep spinning:

The District of Columbia and 16 states have laws protecting gender identity and expression.

Within New York State the cities of Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, NYC, Rochester, and Syracuse and Tompkins and Suffolk Counties protect transgender individuals from discrimination.

There is no evidence that any of the states, cities or counties that have done what’s right have suffered.

I hope false assumptions and fear don’t hold back Albany County or the State of New York.

Byrgen Finkelman

Ally, advocate, and founding member of New York Citizens for Transgender Rights

Categories: General
Byrgen Finkelman

18 Responses

  1. elmer says:

    She was no more “pronounced a boy” at birth than she was “pronounced a human being”.

    The entire concept of transgendered children is simply over the edge for me, I apologize for my smallmindedness. Someone will have to convince me that they don’t result from parental issues.

    A six year old who “announced herself a girl from an early age”. What, 3? 4? What did she mean by that? Does a 4 year old even comprehend the concept of gender, much less gender confusion?

    Were the girls in class getting a treat that day that the boys weren’t?

    In adults, OK, you are who you choose to be, and I see no reason for any consequent discrimination. But this stuff with kids is disturbing.

  2. Byrgen Finkelman says:

    I understand where you are coming from; it took me a while – and meeting a few transgender children – to understand. I think part of the difficulty comes from the fact that we think of gender and sex as the same thing (because in most of us they align). But gender is about how we see ourselves in the world and how we want others to see us. It has nothing to do with sex. Children do know, from very young ages how they want the world to see them, i.e., what their gender identity is. I hope you’ll watch some of the news stories about Coy and also the 20/20 series on Transgender Children by Barbara Walters ( and also go to our Facebook page and click on links about transgender children, and I hope you’ll stick with our blog and see where it leads you. Thanks for reading.

  3. Julie Anderson says:

    It is hard to fathom, until you meet a transgender child. Until you live with one. At 18 months, my son exhibitied very strong feelings about his preferred dress, playthings, etc.
    Extensive psych testing prior to beginning hormone treatment concurs and confirms what he has known for 17 years.

  4. not so perfect parent says:

    It is true that this is very confusing and difficult to accept to many people.
    But honestly what harm can it do to let children (especially this young) find their way in day to day life without forcing them to conform to gender labels?

  5. whoareyou says:

    Julie – I don’t know, I’m of a kinda’ similar mindset to elmer… Kids basically walk at a year old and talk at about two years old. I’m curious – how did your son ‘exhibit’ his feelings about his preferred dress, playthings, etc. at 18 months old, i.e., at about when he would be uttering his earliest words?

    And you say “very strong feelings” – not simply “feelings” – not even “strong feelings” – but “very strong feelings” – how did he exhibit these “very strong feelings”?

    Lastly, at 18 months old a person isn’t buying their own clothes. How is your 18 month old son indicating a preference for girls’ clothes to boys’ clothes?

  6. Ron says:

    There seems to be a lot of hubbub about transgender children wanting to use the bathroom. The reservations people have are to protect everyone – the other children and the transgender child – and are not mean spirited. Quite frankly if I was a female and man dressed as a woman came into my bathroom I would be more than a little uncomfortable. I wish that there was an easy solution.

  7. Byrgen Finkelman says:

    I agree that most people are not mean spirited or intentionally hurtful. The problem is the lack of acceptance of the fact that a transgender woman is not a “man dressed as a woman.” She is a woman because her gender identity is female. Since for most of us, our gender identity and body parts align, we don’t really ever think about what makes us feel like a girl/woman or boy/man. But we all surely think about our gender presentation since we change our clothing for different occasions and venues. We don’t think about it as “gender presentation” but that’s what it is when I put on a dress and heels and make up and jewelry while my husband puts on his best suit and cufflinks to attend a dinner. We’re both presenting our “gender identity” to the world. Anyone who sees me will identify me as female and anyone who sees my husband will identify him as male – because of our gender presentation. Nothing more; nothing less.

    Whenever any of us meets a person or passes a person while walking or driving, we immediately, without conscious thought, categorize them as male or female. And all we know about them is what we see – their clothing, hair, shoes, accessories. Go to the mall and try and look at someone, anyone, without noticing their gender. It’s nearly impossible, if not downright impossible.

    When it comes to the question of “protecting other children and the transgender child,” I have to ask – From what? Children Coy’s age are not sexual beings and to sexualize Coy and her schoolmates simply because one child is transgender is truly unfair to all the children.

    If birth certificates didn’t contain a sex marker (which some birth certificates incorrectly label as “gender”) then we’d likely never know who is or is not transgender – and it would not matter – because we accept people as male or female based on their gender presentation because gender identity is not about body parts.

  8. steve says:

    It’s easy. What is in a person’s heart, sould and mind is more important than their genitalia. We are more than what is between our legs. Sometimes those thing align in a traditional way and sometimes they don’t.

  9. Jackson P. says:

    elmer – “Someone will have to convince me that they don’t result from parental issues.”

    You’re basically saying that they have to prove a negative, just like those who want proof that being gay or transgender is *not* a choice. I will grant you that parents shouldn’t simply accept that their young child is transgender just because they play with toys and dress in clothes associated with the opposite sex without pursuing some kind of objective confirmation about whether their child is in fact transgender – it comes down to giving a child guidance in figuring out who they really are. But when the fact that a child is truly transgender is confirmed by a professional, people just have to accept that fact. I think you’re conflating sexual orientation with gender identity; it stands to reason that a young child wouldn’t necessarily know their orientation yet because they haven’t begun to mature sexually. However, gender identity goes way beyond who a person is attracted to (and in some cases may be completely separate and irrelevant) and those types of identity associations can develop at any age.

  10. Jeffrey says:

    I tried to post a link on here yesterday with a very good article explaining differences in brain physiology. Did it get lost?

  11. Byrgen Finkelman says:

    It must have. Try again.

  12. Don says:

    Byrgen: If other children are uncomfortable with a transgender sharing their bathroom, why should they have to accept that situation? Despite scientific explanations that you can offer for transgeder identification, many adolescents will always find it discomforting. Why aren’t advocates for transgender acceptance more sensitive to the feelings of the vast majority of the population?

    Ideally, in public settings such as schools, transgenders would be allowed to use private bathrooms. If such an arrangement is not available the transgender should be required to use the bathroom that matches the student’s gender as classified by their pediatrician.

  13. Byrgen Finkelman says:

    Hi, Don,

    I certainly do like the idea of letting a pediatrician say what a student’s gender is; it would solve a lot of problems since many, many pediatricians do classify their transgender patients by their correct gender. But, I would not agree that a transgender student should have to use a private bathroom if one is available. To make a child use a separate bathroom makes them feel ostracized and sets them up to be teased and/or bullied.

    As far as other children being uncomfortable sharing the bathroom with a transgender person, I have three comments. First, kids don’t generally care until some adult tells them to and often not even then. Second, the argument you make in the first paragraph is just like arguments made against gay & lesbian equality and African Americans equality. Third, the only way to ensure that transgender people don’t use the bathroom of their birth sex is to have genital police checking everyone using public restrooms. I certainly would not be comfortable with that since I’ve never, ever been asked to show my genitals to prove my gender, have you?

  14. Hemphill17 says:

    I have a quick question for you, before transition this child was a female in a male body…that means her mind was female but it didn’t make anyone uncomfortable in the male bathroom when a female was in there. So why should it make them uncomfortable now when a female is using the female restroom?

  15. Don says:

    Hemphill17 I posted a response to Byrgen’s comment # 13 that is waiting approval. I will answer your question after my earlier response is approved. I would hate to think that the moderators are only approving comments that support their position

  16. Byrgen Finkelman says:

    This is probably a good time to articulate my policy on comments. First, I won’t get into a debate in the comments, because I don’t believe it’s the appropriate forum. We are working to put a place on our website for these conversations/debates. We’ll post the info when it’s up and running. Second, I won’t post any comment that contains an ad hominem attack on either another commenter or on me. Third, I won’t post any comment that asks about my genitals. What’s under my clothing is no one’s business except my doctor and my spouse.

  17. Mickey says:

    What is “nature” and what is “nurture”? What is biology and what is environment? To be blunt, why are there so many more transgender people today than there were in the 1940s or 1950s? The development of the medical arts to make the surgery and hormonal therapy safer and more widely available? Relaxed social attitudes? This would be a fascinating topic for research.

  18. Byrgen Finkelman says:

    From the medical literature I’ve read, and from what I’ve been told by transgender people and parents of transgender kids, I doubt that nurture plays a role in gender misalignment. Where nurture comes into play is when parents are accepting and allow their child to live in the gender they identify with. I’m not a scientist, but I doubt that there is a greater percentage of people who have gender misalignment now; what is more likely, in my opinion, is that more people are able to transition and more people are open about being transgender.


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See Bill Kelly at ITEXPO in LA

August 1, 2008

Many of my blog readers know Bill Kelly well from his years of work building partner programs in the industry for companies like Excel and Cantata (after the company merged with Brooktrout).

Add to this a brief stint at Pulvermedia and Kelly becomes the perfect person to help improve the quality of ITEXPO conference content.

With Bill's vast experience he is the perfect person in fact to be at the show.

What will Bill be doing at ITEXPO? He will host two courses in the TMC University program, which is open to all conference attendees.  Bill's classes include "FMC/Mobility" on Tuesday September 16th and "IP Network Security" on Wednesday September 17th.

What are Kelly's thoughts on the show? Here is a quote from him:

"From an educational perspective, TMC University offers a unique opportunity for attendees to obtain third-party certification that recognizes their competence in selecting, installing and managing important communications solutions. As a part of ITEXPO, TMC University also provides a tremendous networking opportunity, and I'm looking forward to the entire event, catching up with colleagues and learning more about the latest solutions on the expo floor."

And of course, much of the networking at the show might actually involve Bill as he is so connected .

Nortel Earnings August 2008

August 1, 2008

In a podcast conversation with Joel Hackney, President of Enterprise Solutions Business at Nortel I had a chance to discuss Nortel's earnings which were a mixed bag for the quarter. On the one hand there were eight quarters of year over year profit increases and revenue and gross margins increased compared to the same quarter (Q2) last year.

On the down side there was a wider net loss of $113 million, or 23 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $37 million, or seven cents a share, a year earlier.

Hackney did explain that the economic environment has been challenging, citing a "tough economy" and he mentioned work needs to be done to improve operational effectiveness and margins in the business.

Hackney went on to say, "Not only are we looking to become more effective and efficient, internally within Nortel from a cost perspective, we're taking our solutions externally and helping our customers do the same thing."

Other important takeaways were thoughts on the LG-Nortel JV, the Siemens acquisition by the Gores Group and what the rest of the years' earnings will look like.

Here is the podcast  for more.

Is It Just in Time Communications or UC?

July 31, 2008

Years back I coined a term Just in Time Communications (JITC) to encompass the idea of removing latency from human communications. Art Rosenberg is credited with coining the term Unified Communications and he often writes on the matter. JITC did not stick as a term but UC did.

The funny thing is Art's most recent article talks about removing the latency from UC and reminds me exactly why I liked the term JITC to begin with -- it is this human latency that needs to be removed from the equation.

I am not reopening the discussion of which term makes the most sense. I want the undustry to move forward and grow and term wars are really stupid.

Fuel Prices Fuel Technology

July 31, 2008

As fuel prices increase, so does the desire to come up with reasonable alternatives. Some of these efforts revolve around conservation and others have to do with new technologies which make it possible to bypass oil, coal and natural gas.

Today is an unusual day as we have new examples in each category. Detroit has a new mobile web traffic monitoring service which is ad supported and allows drivers to tap into 600 traffic cameras. The theory here is you will see where the traffic is and drive around it.

T-Mobile -- Growing Revenue by Helping Parents

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Mobile carriers are so in the driver seat. They really are. There is a good deal of money to be made in this space for a reason that may not be obvious. It is kids.

Ribbit Sold to BT

July 29, 2008

Seems like the rumors were true. Ribbit was sold to BT for $105 million according to ZDnet. Here are some thoughts on the matter from Andy Abramson as well.

Why would BT buy a company focused on communications development? The primary reason is that they see communications changing rapidly and they want to be on the leading, not trailing edge of this trend.

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Blog   Tagged ‘giving back’

UMB Big Bash®

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Today is the day! In a few hours, we’ll get to rock out to Darius Rucker AND benefit two not-for-profit organizations in the Kansas City community…all part of UMB Big Bash!

Here are snapshots of what makes our two beneficiaries so outstanding.

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When you click links marked with the “‡” symbol, you will leave UMB’s website and go to websites that are not controlled by or affiliated with UMB. We have provided these links for your convenience. However, we do not endorse or guarantee any products or services you may view on other sites. Other websites may not follow the same privacy policies and security procedures that UMB does, so please review their policies and procedures carefully.

Mr. Kemper is the chairman and chief executive officer of UMB Financial Corporation and UMB Bank, n.a. He joined UMB in 1997. Mr. Kemper is active in both civic and philanthropic endeavors. One of the causes he is most passionate about is the arts. He currently serves as a trustee and executive committee member for the Denver Art Museum and is a past board member for The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City.

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Community Involvement at UMB

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Contributing to our communities and environment is important to UMB because we believe we have the ability to make a positive difference in someone’s life every day. In addition to providing a solid portfolio of financial products, we have utilized associate volunteerism and corporate philanthropy to build our reputation as a strong community partner.

From financing for small businesses and providing working capital loans to companies that support job creation and retention, to our corporate philanthropy and our associates’ own personal volunteerism activities, UMB and its associates are dedicated to our local communities.

Historically, we’ve supported organizations and programs that expand access and appreciation of the arts, further economic development, advance educational opportunities, grow agriculture, strengthen families, restore neighborhoods, develop future leaders, and improve health and wellness. Through these acts, we strive to make UMB a place where customers can count on more.

Community Involvement by the numbers

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Associate Volunteerism

UMB enables its associates to give some of their time, energy and talents back to the community through spirited programs and initiatives. We proudly offer associates 16 hours of paid time off for volunteerism each year.2 In addition to encouraging individual volunteerism amongst our associates, specialized volunteer opportunities
and team-building group projects are also offered throughout the year.

Local Volunteer Opportunities

UMB’s partnership with United Way and local volunteer centers provides associates in our geographic footprint with current volunteer opportunities. Associates select organizations with which they have a relationship or would like to explore and donate their time, resources and support. Past projects have included: fundraising
initiatives, hands-on volunteer projects, collection drives, ongoing projects and organizational support, financial management expertise, and board service. Preference is given to UMB not-for-profit customers requesting volunteer assistance; however, other organizations are also often selected for associate volunteerism support.

1 YTD 2013
2 Manager must approve, eligible after six months service and organization must be nonprofit.

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The best way to celebrate turning 100? Giving back.

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How do you normally celebrate a big anniversary or milestone birthday? I would guess most people go to a nice restaurant for dinner or go on vacation. Or, maybe splurge on an expensive gift for yourself or your significant other. Well at UMB, we decided to celebrate our 100-year anniversary with a few million of our closest friends.

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UMB has always stressed one thing above everything else – dedication to our communities. We currently touch 19 states throughout the United States with a physical presence for a wide variety of financial services, and we wanted to celebrate 100 years with the people who have supported us.

At the beginning of our milestone anniversary year, we challenged all of our associates to join together and give back. We asked 500 associates throughout our footprint to volunteer 5,000 total hours to organizations in their communities in 2013. That’s a pretty hefty ask, don’t you think? Our associates didn’t even blink. We still have a few more days left on our challenge, and our associates have already volunteered more than 31,700 hours with more than 1,000 organizations. More than six times the original goal. Now that’s dedication to the community!

But our associates still didn’t think that was enough. After all, turning 100 is a really big deal. So, more than 220 associates in St. Louis, Denver and Kansas City organized three separate days dedicated entirely to volunteerism. Approximately 50 St. Louis associates planted more than 40 trees at a Forest Park playground. Additionally, 70 associates in Denver built storage cabinets, painted rooms and even weeded overgrown flowerbeds for Urban Peak, an agency that offers services to young people struggling with poverty and homelessness. And in our hometown, associates helped spread the support across eight locations in Kansas City by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, American Royal, Della Lamb, and much more. We also spent a day uplifting veterans at the Kansas City Stand Down event in November.

I encourage you to join us in supporting your community through organizations you are passionate about! Cheers to another 100 years!

Ms. Vaughn West is the Vice President of Community Relations at UMB in Kansas City, Mo. In this role, she is responsible for managing corporate community outreach, associate volunteerism, charitable giving and the UMB Big Bash concert for a cause. She joined UMB in 2008. She earned a BA in Communications from University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. She also has a certificate of business proficiency from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.  She has served on many community boards and volunteer councils, including her current position as vice-president of United Way’s Corporate Volunteer Council.

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