A perfect example of what's wrong

I've had a hunch for a while now, but now I have proof as to what exactly is wrong with the typical American diet and its connection to outrageous healthcare costs.

At work we have decent health coverage, not great, but not bad. We also have access to a Flexible Payment Plan, which if you're not familiar with it, in summary it's an account into which you can divert pre-tax dollars to to cover qualified medical costs, above and beyond standard coverage. Things like deductibles, co-pays, percentages not covered, and even certain things like contact lense solution and condoms (family planning). I've never used the plan before, but I decided to take advantage of it this year.

So anyway, I have a co-worker with whom I'm friendly, who often complains about our medical coverage, and who also told me that every year contributes the max to his flex account, which means he diverts $2000 pre-tax dollars into it. He also says he wishes he could contribute more (I'm not sure if this limit is federally imposed or company imposed) because he uses it all up each year.

Now I understand that he's got a family and two children, and that kids are susceptible to sickness. But I also see a typical lunch each day for him is some sort of fast food, or none at all, in which case it is substituted with a few Cokes and a few Kit-Kat bars. When he gets coffee he puts a ton of sugar in it and about an inch worth of non-dairy powdered creamer substitue. He is sick more often than not, and on a morning like today, he complains about how he's spending all this money at the doctor and on medicine and stuff.

The way I see it, every person can eat whatever they want, take care of themselves as they wish, and I don't like to preach my ways to others. I make suggestions to him every now and then. You know, cut down on sugar, cut back on fast food. Every day I bring my lunch, which I'll admit is rather plain and monotonous, a sandwich, some vegetables, pita chips or something, maybe an apple or banana. If we lunch together we usually end up at Subway or something.

But the suggestions I make are not heeded. The example of bringing lunch is not followed. And while I remain in good health all winter, he gets the monthly sickness, the allergies, etc, many of which I strongly believe would be cured with a change of diet.

But I don't blame him. He doesn't understand. Like many, his diet is perfectly normal, after all, that's what they show on TV, that's what everyone else eats. I suppose I blame it on advertising and mis-education. A perfect example is diet soda. My fiance started drinking diet soda to cut back on sugar intake. Sounds good in theory. But she was then getting these bad headaches, so I suggested cutting out or at least cutting back on soda. She did. Within days her headaches were gone. Google "aspartame" for more.

And this all leads us to outrageous healthcare costs. When you go to the doctor, you get a prescription. And unless you're obese, I doubt you'll be given a healthy eating pamphlet by the doctor. So the bad diet continues, and the routine sickness continues. And each time you go to that office, prices and demand for drugs and that time slot at the doctor's office go up. And the cycle continues.

I don't think there's any coincidence about the fact that I am far healthier and have far lower medical payments. And even though I don't come close to maxing out my coverage, I pay the price just like everyone else. Call me crazy, but I figure if we've made it throughout history without aspirin and heartburn pills, why should we need them now?

Beating a dead horse

OK, maybe not the most sympathetic phrase to use...

I don't want to judge what's right and what's wrong here, but can someone explain something to me? So some people want Terri Schiavo to live. OK, nothing wrong with that. But if the reason behind that decision is based on a belief that no one has a right to artificially end a life, and believe that she should only die of natural causes, don't you see that if that was the case she'd have been dead years ago?? I'd have to say keeping someone alive by sticking tubes into them is a bit more ARTIFICIAL then letting her die.

Now I don't wish death upon her or anyone else, nor do I wish suffering upon her family, but really, what hope do they cling to? She's never going to be normal. They're going to continue visiting her at the hospital, clinging to memories of her, memories that they'll continue to have after she's passed on.

I really don't get it. And I don't buy the comparison that pro-lifers make. Letting a woman who is a vegetable take nature's path towards death is a totally different situation. As far as I'm concerned being stuck in a bed for 10 years is not a life. And letting her die is not murder. She'd have been dead long before if the hospital and the husband and the family hadn't kept her alive this long, ARTIFICIALLY.

If I was ever in that position, I'd beg anyone to pull the plug on me. What pleasure can one possibly take from life in that situation?

Any Vegans or Vegetarians out there?

I've been thinking a lot about vegetarianism and veganism. Personally, I don't believe that eating meat is wrong. If you look at the natural world, plenty of animals eat meat. I feel that it's the way things go. Sometimes it's cruel, sometimes it seems wrong, but the way I see it you can't argue with nature.

But I realize that eating a burger at a restaurant where the beef is mass produced and the cattle are raised without regard is a different story. I don't think animal cruelty is acceptable. I don't think beefing animals up with hormones and antibiotics is acceptable either. I also don't agree with the commericialism of it all. I've done some reading, I know about the horror stories and I know about the greed and I know about the environmental aspects.

Currently, I still eat meat, however when I buy it for the most part I try to be responsible about it, buying the free range poulty and beef. I figure at least in those cases I am supporting small(er) business, and the animals, although they ultimately end up on a plate, are given at least some form of existance.

I've always been a little confused about my meat eating, being that I can see both sides of the issue. But as I educate myself and try to act more globally and responsibly, both for myself and the world in general, I find myself more excited by the idea of vegetarianism and veganism.

Anyone here vegetarian or vegan? If so, leave some comments about how and when you became vegetarian or vegan and what made you decide to do it.

My weekend wild animal encounter

I went hiking on Saturday morning, and I'm proud to say that I saw my first real live rattlesnake and did not get bit. Go here and click on the first picture to see it up close.

A sign?

If you read my blog, you know that I had a job interview last week. I was glad to go to the interview, and the prospect of a new beginning was and still is exciting. However, in pushing my feelings around over the past few days and talking to people and thinking and contemplating, I have decided (at least I think I have) that if this job is offered to me, taking it would only be a temporary change, not really changing or fixing my overall disatisfaction with work in general. I fear that I may find myself in the same position at a different place.

The biggest motivation for me to get a new job is to try and move one step closer to my perfect job and my perfect working environment. I make decent money already, so money is secondary to happiness in my opinion. As strange as it sounds, the biggest problem with this new job is the fact that I would only get one week of vacation my first year there. That is a major issue for me. My fiance will be graduating next year with her degree, we will be getting married, and who knows what will happen at that point. We may pack it up and say goodbye to San Diego for all I know, so with that in mind, there is no incentive for me to start a new job where the payoff doesn't come within the first year. And having been at my present job for just over four years, I'm finally reaching the payoff point. I will soon be 100% vested in my 401K, I will soon start accumulating three weeks paid vacation (that's right, as opposed to the one week I might be offered), and I know my boss and I know that he is a great guy and very flexible when it comes to special requests.

On a strange note, I had a "sign" the other day that I think suggested that I should stay put for the time being. One of the days right around my interview, I was in the bathroom before work about to brush my teeth, and I picked up the toothpaste, and you know how sometimes the toothpaste gets smeared around the top? Well, on the Colgate tube we have, it has the words "Twist here to open" in letters around the top, and the toothpaste was smeared across three consecutive letters, making then perfectly visible and legible. My company's name is three words, and frequently abbreviated by a three letter acronym. Well the three letters that stuck out quite clearly, were the letters making up the acronym for my company's name.

Lingering Doubts

I have been trying to push myself to find a new job. I find myself complaining a lot about my current job, so I figured that means it's time to try something new. Yesterday I had a job interview, and I think they may offer me the job, but I am having last minute doubts.

It would certainly be good for me, since I would be in a new environment, meet some new people, learn some new skills, and probably make more money. But I always have that lingering doubt, "What if I don't like it?" My job right now is fine, it's comfortable and I'm well liked, so it would be a shock for me to quit, and I would definately be missed. But I just feel like I'm bored, and I know I need a change of scenery.

The guys who I would be working with if I got this new job seemed pretty cool, my work would definately be tougher, and more high profile, but that's not necessarily a problem. The one thing that bugs me is that the first year, they offer one week paid vacation. How is that possibly enough? I realize that the fact that any paid vacation is offered is more than most, but one week? That seems absurd. That's not even barely enough to go back east to visit my family!

What would you recommend I do? And how much vacation do you get?

OK. Further proof that our media doesn't give proper attention to proper issues. Or maybe further evidence as to the state of the American people. With everything going on in the world, the two biggest headlines this past week have been, and still are, the Terri Schiavo dilemna, and professional athletes and steroids. Don't get me wrong, these are both very important issues, but they pale in comparision and magnitude to things like genocide and war, both of which are happening as we speak and have been ongoing in the world for some time.

Other major recent headlines. Michael Jackson. Scott Peterson.

These stories are all interesting, and we all have a curiousity about these cases, but in my mind they are relatively minor issues, and don't deserve headlines. Take this Schiavo story for example. The federal court is looking into it. But I have to say, this situation probably happens all the time. There were emergency sessions this weekend in the House and the Senate reviewing the case. And Republicans are arguing the right to life issue. So ok, when there was debate on that huge budget bill a few months back, Congress had to wait until everyone came back from vacation. But in this case, they come in for a weekend session??? And these right to lifers I'll never understand. They fight for the rights of unborn fetuses and they fight for the rights of people living off tubes, but they don't fight for ordinary rights for everyday people!

I'm not making a judgement about this particular case, I'm simply pointing out a bigger issue surrounding it. I think this issue should be settled behind closed doors by those affected, not in the public eye.

And as far as these stories making headlines, maybe I am wrong to place the blame on the media. Maybe it is our own fault. After all, the media is only chasing ratings, and this stuff sells. To me it is sad, and is just one more poor reflection of Americans in the world.

What is real success?

I really enjoy reading blogs written by travelers, especially travelers that are still travelling. That way I get to live out my fantasy life while living here in my real life. I have read and still read three different bloggers who have travelled/are travelling extensively. The thing I noticed is this. When these people are out exploring life and not held by the strings of society, their writing excels. Their stories are interesting, filled with passion, and their messages profound. They inspire me.

A lot of people think that working every day and being a productive member of society the real measure of success. I think that's a load of crap. I think that these people who have figured out a way to see the world on their own dime, and to experience life and cultures through their own eyes, rather than the eyes of the people who tell us what society expects of us, are the real success stories.

It probably seems rather weird/sad that I can sit in my chair and read journals written by travelers, and be inspired. Some might say I need to get over it, that it's only an escape. Well, it is an escape, but I don't want to get over it. During the time when I read these journals, it's like reading a good book. I disappear and see a different way of life.

For a long time I've always quietly questioned modern society, and secretly doubted what we were being told. But now I see that it is not just me, there are others out there who have thought the same thing, the difference being that they realized it and found their own way to give a big "F you" to the system.

So to get back to my first point. Of these travellers whose blogs I read, I've made a distinct connection to the quality of their writing and the "normalcy" of their life at the time they write. Person A travelled extensively, wrote great things, but then came back to the US and go a job. Immediately the blog quality dropped. Still interesting, but the passion seemed to disappear. Person B travels continuously. The quality stays the same. Person C travels extensively, but picks up random jobs here and there to support the travel addiction. During said "working phases", writing is still good, but quality and passion drops.

So my conclusion is that regimented working is not good for the soul, that being a part of normal society only takes us furthur from normal, that it dulls and deadens us and our senses, that it slowly sucks the passion from our lives. This is not a very profound conclusion, however to me it is, because I can see the connection in my life. I realize that was a long story to get to the point, but it's important for me. It's important because I am realizing some things and trying to make a few changes in my own life.

A few items of note

Has anyone else noticed that Blogger isn't keeping up with the number of posts properly? My dashboard has showed that I have 37 posts for the past 4 months of so. And in my profile it shows posts from November. Hmm.

I'm starting to train for the Rock n Roll Marthon here in San Diego. I've never even run a road race before, however I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm not going for a good time, if I even finish that's good enough in my book. I've always thought it would be fun to say I did a marathon, but never had any real reason to try to do one. Last week my fiance, who also has never run a road race, who doesn't even run in fact, came home and said her and her friend were going to do the marathon. So I jumped on the bandwagon. Note that we're not training to run the marathon, we're training to finish it. Anyone ever done one? If so, any suggestions?

What do you believe in?

If you ask most people if they stand up for what they believe in, they would probably say yes. I would probably say the same, but if you think about it, most people probably inadvertently support things they don't believe in, whether it's via the work we do, the food we eat, or the places we shop.

For instance, I work for a large company which provides a service to many businesses in the retail industry. One of them happens to be RJ Reynolds Tobacco. Do I support this. No. Do I quit because of it? No.

Most of us go out to eat fairly often. Many go to fast food restaurants. If most people saw how some of the animals that provide meat for the restaurant are treated, they probably would never eat meat again. If they knew that somewhere down the line the restaurant was engaging in some business practice they didn't agree with, or that they employed illegal immigrants, would it stop them from eating there?

There are a million scenarios. Wearing fur. Eating meat. Using cosmetics tested on animals. Working for a company which directly contradicts personal beliefs. It goes on and on. But is it possible to stick to your guns in every possible situation? Probably not.

One of the things that I am particular about is recycling and reuse. Am I perfect? No. But it is so easy to recycle, and I try to reuse as much as I can. I don't print on paper unless completely necessary. I reuse the same bag every day when I bring lunch, rather than throw it out each day. When I buy groceries I try to bag efficiently, sometimes I even bring my own bags. But most people probably don't. But if they knew that the rain forest was disappearing because of THEM, maybe they would act differently.

It's not easy. I love a good hamburger just as much as anyone. But I try to compromise. When I grocery shop, if I buy meat I try to buy the grass fed natural beef that comes from the ranchers rather than the businessmen. When I go to the store, if I have a choice I support the mom and pop store rather than the sprawl marts.

I am not perfect. I am far from perfect. But I try to act globally and responsibly as much as I can. I try to inform myself about these things and act accordingly.

A lesson in tolerance

I'm thinking about this because I recently commented on someone's blog, saying something to the effect that I wasn't happy with our current administration. Someone else then proceeded to tell me that if I didn't want to be judged by the actions of our government, I should leave the country. Do you know how ridiculous this is?

That's right. So if I go out and do my part and vote, and my candidate doesn't win, I should pack my bags? Or should I say, well, my candidate didn't win, so I must be wrong, so let me sell my soul, give up my beliefs, and follow the crowd?

It comes down to tolerance, understanding, and acceptance. I realize that people are entitled to their opinion. Apparently not everyone does though, since there are people (like this guy who told me to leave) that think they are right about everything, but are too ignorant to realize that they think they are right because they are relying on their own opinions, which come from their belief system, which of course is the same thing as me being able to have my own beliefs which allow me to form an opinion of our government.

I understand that people like different things, have different thresholds, and that is what makes us human. But to tell someone to leave the country? I guess there are more people like this than we think. They are the same people who don't like what's on the radio, so instead of turning the dial, they complain about the country's morals. They are the same people who don't like what's on TV, so they think the FCC should tell us all what to watch. They're the same people who think being gay is wrong, so they breed a hatred towards these peole and try to deny them the same rights that they have. My question is, how is what two people (regardless of sex) do in the bedroom any of my business? Their actions in no way affect me. It's called tolerance and being accepting of our differences.

The way I see it, if I don't like what I'm hearing or seeing, I turn it off. How is progressive talk radio any different than Rush Limbaugh? (I mean in theory, not content wise, they're both shows trying to express what they believe in) Same with blogs. If I read someone's blog and I think it's junk, or I think they're an idiot, I leave the site. I don't send them hate mail, telling them that they're an idiot.

It's ridiculous.

Why we are hated in the Middle East

I was looking for information about Iran, and I stumbled across an interesting article, called "Why Is America Hated In The Middle East?"

I'm not sure what the date is on it, but it is fairly informative and to the point. The most important points are:

• Saddam Hussein was our ally early on against Iran


• Osama bin Laden was our ally early on, and we helped him and encouraged him to fight a holy war against the Soviet Union. We funded the makings of Al Qaeda.


• When we later tried to save Kuwait from Saddam's invasion, we stationed troops in Saudi Arabia and continued supporting their dictatorial royal family, which bin Laden didn't like to much

This overly simplified list has of course lead us to where we are today. Creating problems, trying to then fix them, and creating more.

Good ol' government, huh?