The difference between being and doing

What does it mean to spend time with someone? Is it enough to just be there?

Not for me, it isn't.

This seems to be something that separates people. Maybe it has to do with my job, or maybe I was attracted to my job because I already had this belief. I need to accomplish things, not just sit there and punch a time clock. But some people think that just "being there" is enough. I disagree.

I need to DO things. Not just BE somewhere.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

P.S. I see this at work all the time (more in past jobs, but also in my present job).  People, working on an hourly basis,  just killing time.  Taking a ton of time in the buffet line, examining every little thing rather than taking their food and moving on.  Watching the clock, as opposed to working from a task list and accomplishing things.  Going through life in slow motion, as opposed to grabbing your food and getting out of people's way, and getting on with your day.

Song of the Day: Colbie Caillat - Brighter Than The Sun

I wish I felt like the emotion expressed in this song. Maybe if I listen to this song enough times I'll catch its spirit. Not working so far, but it's worth a shot. :)

Colbie Caillat - Brighter Than The Sun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU5o6M7S5nQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The Myth of the Free-Market American Health Care System

This article expresses something that I have long known to be true. Funny how people think that we need government intervention in the health care market because the free market has failed. Really? No, we haven't even tried the free market!

Check out this article from The Atlantic:
"The Myth of the Free-Market American Health Care System"
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/03/the-myth-of-the-free-market-american-health-care-system/254210/

The article essentially points out that conservatives have been painted into the corner of defending the status quo. This is a strategic error. The correct play is to point out that we have suffered through government intervention for many years, and that is why costs keep rising! After all, in true free markets (think Lasik eye surgery) costs keep falling.

The article discusses Switzerland. If government is to be involved, better to give people subsidies (scaled by income) and let them make their decisions independently. Government support but free market incentives.

Singapore, too, has a good healthcare system. Singapore forces its citizens to have health saving accounts. I don't like that they are forced to have them, but I do think that health savings accounts are a very good idea (I have one).

From the article:
"Why does this system work so well? Because it incorporates the central idea behind free-market health care: that health-care spending is most efficient when that spending is executed by individual patients, rather than third parties. It's easy to waste other people's money. But if that money is your own, you are going to try your best to spend it wisely."

Amen to that.

Condom or Android?

 This is funny. Not sure if this is a coincidence or if there are similarities between condoms and phones! Or maybe it says something about the fact that similar types of people name both products.

From The Intercom Blog:
"What’s in a Name? | The Intercom Blog
http://blog.intercom.io/whats-in-a-name/

Google Self-Driving Car Test

Did you see the latest Google video posted to YouTube? The one about their self-driving car?

"Self-Driving Car Test: Steve Mahan"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdgQpa1pUUE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

"This is some of the best driving I've ever done!"

Watch closely, there's an interesting twist. It's a touching commercial.

April Fools, 2012 Edition

Yes, Google once again kicked ass on April Fools Day.

Here is a summary from Thenextweb.com:
"A Round Up of ALL of Google’s April Fools Jokes. Fair play, they really make an effort…"
http://thenextweb.com/google/2012/04/01/googles-april-fools-jokes-continue-meet-really-advanced-search-and-multiple-cursors-for-chrome/


My favorites? Here are several.

Google Weather Control (limited locations)
"Google Weather Control for Sydney NSW, Australia"
https://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&q=sydney+nsw+weather

Jargon Bot
"Communicate without the jargon"
http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/jargon.html#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-entblog-na-us-jargon_4_1&utm_medium=blog

Google Nascar Racing
"Google Racing"
http://www.google.com/racing/
Also shown at the Nascar site:
"Google Announces Google Racing"
http://www.nascar.com/video/none/none/120331/cup-mar-google/index.html

I think this one is my second favorite. You can watch YouTube without an Internet connection!
"The YouTube Collection"
http://www.youtube.com/TheYouTubeCollection
Watch the infomercial. Click through and order your collection! Seriously, click through, it's funny!


And my favorite is...
Google Voice for Pets!
"Google Voice expands to new markets"
http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/google-voice-expands-to-new-markets.html

You need to click through to enlarge the embedded images, to get an idea of what your pets may be telling you.

Desktop Google Voice view (if you click only one link in this blog post, click THIS ONE):
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEdyU8kVnvtTH9JgwtjrATA8epXLrL-hsl5n03v7nCg-1nCZe03Ul984Ec_YZtiwNVFq-0fQ59-XSQuKvFV0sWbeAfGy4FLJbkPxHZf7RnZAakJSFIPjtWuDM3aEUHB2_s8win8-dUIQ/s1600/kona_fullsize.png

Android Google Voice app view:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkt4Bsmsi5PBZP3k3rtZEv08IBe4RL5pLl3BcZZVGSO6IkiQnek79MuHht_fOAsLRPryO4qY_md6PiZR1xmdaIpfm6SwJV6s_ZoL_k1fO3xmUvdpqEmYs1xwpWL-LinV1tCaBot8Awlw/s1600/cats.png