Sara finally finished her very first year of school and has now been promoted to Kindergarten! Good job, Sara!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
The Austin/Arizona Boycott Debacle
So I'm reading today that "The Burleson Tea Party" wants to boycott Austin because Austin is boycotting Arizona. This is what Angela Cox, founder of the party, wrote:
"I call upon you, to take a look at what has happened, right here, in the great state of Texas. The voice of the few, in Austin, Texas, have taken matters into their own hands, by slandering the Arizona legislation, and voting unanimously of a boycott of Arizona. How dare they ignore the voices and wishes of Texans!"
Well, I just have to say...good riddance, Burleson Tea Party. We don't need you here anyway. The Tea Party movement, in itself, is a bit of a joke. They name themselves after a movement related to taxes. Particularly, "taxation without representation." Since the Obama administration has reduced taxes for most Americans, this seems an odd name for a movement against him.
But anyway, back to this boycott. As a "Texan" myself, the Burleson Tea Party doesn't speak for me. I support what the city of Austin is doing. Does that mean I support illegal immigration? No. Not at all. I just think that what Arizona is doing is going a little too far. Basically, it's racial profiling. Anyone who doesn't look "Anglo" can be stopped at any time, for any reason. If I'm driving through Arizona, will I be stopped because my wife is Asian? I mean, really, where does it end? It's almost tantamount to placing a five-pointed star on someones clothes.
My mother was an immigrant. My grandfather was an immigrant. My wife is an immigrant. I'm only the first generation of my family that was actually born here. This a country made by immigrants, and it's what makes it great. The diversity. My wife was telling me the other day that nobody ever treats her special here. She complains that when I was living in Taiwan, I always got special treatment from people because I was a foreigner. And it's true, I did. But now that she is here in American, she isn't treated any different from an American citizen. That's because an American citizen can be anyone, of any race or background. Christy fits in as much as anyone else. But once we start stopping people for "not looking right", we're heading down the wrong path.
"I call upon you, to take a look at what has happened, right here, in the great state of Texas. The voice of the few, in Austin, Texas, have taken matters into their own hands, by slandering the Arizona legislation, and voting unanimously of a boycott of Arizona. How dare they ignore the voices and wishes of Texans!"
Well, I just have to say...good riddance, Burleson Tea Party. We don't need you here anyway. The Tea Party movement, in itself, is a bit of a joke. They name themselves after a movement related to taxes. Particularly, "taxation without representation." Since the Obama administration has reduced taxes for most Americans, this seems an odd name for a movement against him.
But anyway, back to this boycott. As a "Texan" myself, the Burleson Tea Party doesn't speak for me. I support what the city of Austin is doing. Does that mean I support illegal immigration? No. Not at all. I just think that what Arizona is doing is going a little too far. Basically, it's racial profiling. Anyone who doesn't look "Anglo" can be stopped at any time, for any reason. If I'm driving through Arizona, will I be stopped because my wife is Asian? I mean, really, where does it end? It's almost tantamount to placing a five-pointed star on someones clothes.
My mother was an immigrant. My grandfather was an immigrant. My wife is an immigrant. I'm only the first generation of my family that was actually born here. This a country made by immigrants, and it's what makes it great. The diversity. My wife was telling me the other day that nobody ever treats her special here. She complains that when I was living in Taiwan, I always got special treatment from people because I was a foreigner. And it's true, I did. But now that she is here in American, she isn't treated any different from an American citizen. That's because an American citizen can be anyone, of any race or background. Christy fits in as much as anyone else. But once we start stopping people for "not looking right", we're heading down the wrong path.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A Good Year for Concerts
"So ya, thought ya,
might like to go to the show?"
-opening lines from "The Wall"
I'm taking Christy and kids to see their first rock concert a little later this year. We're going to see RUSH. It's an outdoor concert, and I got tickets for the lawn seating. This way, if the babies want to run around and go nuts, there should be plenty of room for them to do that. Had we got reserved seats, it would have been another fiasco like the time we tried to watch the Austin Rodeo. Also, thankfully, kids get in free on the lawn, so I only had to buy two tickets.
I like Rush. They're not my favorite band, but they're in my top 10. This year they're playing the album "Moving Pictures" in its entirety. "Moving Pictures" has all the Rush classics that I grew up listening to as a kid: "Tom Sawyer," "Red Barchetta," "Limelight," "Witch Hunt,", and "YYZ." It's my favorite album by Rush, and if they weren't playing this front to back, I probably wouldn't be all that enthusiastic about going to another Rush "greatest hits" show (I've already seen them about five times before). Christy doesn't really like Geddy Lee's voice, so she's not sure if she will like the concert or not. I told her that Geddy has one of those distinct voices that you just have to get used to. I also told her just to go for the experience of an American rock concert (ok, Rush is Canadian, but you know what I mean).
In November, we're going to another concert, and this is one that I am really excited about. Roger Waters, of PINK FLOYD, is going to perform "The Wall" live in its entirety. I can't tell you how long I've been waiting to see this show. I was too young to catch the show when Pink Floyd first toured it in 1980 (I was only 9, and there was no way in hell my parents would have allowed me to go). So I had to experience it through the pictures I would see in books, and the audio recordings. I'm realistic, so I know the show will not be the same as the one 30 years ago. David Gilmour will not be there, so his distinct guitar sound will be sorely missed. But the theatrical show will be almost the same, if not better. I'm taking Christy to this show without the kids (we're getting a babysitter). Christy, surprisingly, really likes "The Wall." I've probably made her listen to it about a hundred times, so it began to grow on her. She didn't even knew the band Pink Floyd existed until she met me. Apparently Pink Floyd is not that big in Taiwan. Too bad. Those poor Taiwanese don't know what they're missing.
I like Rush. They're not my favorite band, but they're in my top 10. This year they're playing the album "Moving Pictures" in its entirety. "Moving Pictures" has all the Rush classics that I grew up listening to as a kid: "Tom Sawyer," "Red Barchetta," "Limelight," "Witch Hunt,", and "YYZ." It's my favorite album by Rush, and if they weren't playing this front to back, I probably wouldn't be all that enthusiastic about going to another Rush "greatest hits" show (I've already seen them about five times before). Christy doesn't really like Geddy Lee's voice, so she's not sure if she will like the concert or not. I told her that Geddy has one of those distinct voices that you just have to get used to. I also told her just to go for the experience of an American rock concert (ok, Rush is Canadian, but you know what I mean).
In November, we're going to another concert, and this is one that I am really excited about. Roger Waters, of PINK FLOYD, is going to perform "The Wall" live in its entirety. I can't tell you how long I've been waiting to see this show. I was too young to catch the show when Pink Floyd first toured it in 1980 (I was only 9, and there was no way in hell my parents would have allowed me to go). So I had to experience it through the pictures I would see in books, and the audio recordings. I'm realistic, so I know the show will not be the same as the one 30 years ago. David Gilmour will not be there, so his distinct guitar sound will be sorely missed. But the theatrical show will be almost the same, if not better. I'm taking Christy to this show without the kids (we're getting a babysitter). Christy, surprisingly, really likes "The Wall." I've probably made her listen to it about a hundred times, so it began to grow on her. She didn't even knew the band Pink Floyd existed until she met me. Apparently Pink Floyd is not that big in Taiwan. Too bad. Those poor Taiwanese don't know what they're missing.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
3 Months as a Homeowner
We’ve been living in our house for three months now, and we finally feel as though we’ve settled in.
Last weekend we had to buy our first lawnmower. We opted for the lower priced, manual lawnmower, which cost us $99. For almost three months, our backyard consistently looked like dead, brown patches of grass. Then suddenly, within the last several weeks, everything turned green and all manners of weeds sprouted up from nowhere. The two trees that we have on our front lawn, which Christy that for sure were dead, also suddenly sprouted leaves. So…much of our weekend was spent mowing the lawn and digging up weeds. Just another adventure you get to have once you become a homeowner.
I was a little concerned about skyrocketing utility bills, but our electricity bill has been around the $100 level. This is without having to use any heat or A/C. In retrospect, I guess it was good that we bought a smaller house, as opposed to all the fancy, two-story homes we had looked at previously. Some of my colleagues here at work, who have much bigger homes than me, pay about $300 a month for their electricity. Our water bill is about $70. Again, much higher than I used to pay, but not shockingly high, considering we use the washing machine and dishwasher frequently.
I guess my biggest shock is when I get my mortgage bill every month and I see that only about $150 of my payment is going to the principal on our house. The rest is going to interest and escrow. No wonder it takes so freakin’ long to pay off a mortgage. I was told that once you buy a house, you normally spend your first few years paying off the interest, but this is ridiculous.
(Picture: our once brown backyard, now green and full of weeds)
Last weekend we had to buy our first lawnmower. We opted for the lower priced, manual lawnmower, which cost us $99. For almost three months, our backyard consistently looked like dead, brown patches of grass. Then suddenly, within the last several weeks, everything turned green and all manners of weeds sprouted up from nowhere. The two trees that we have on our front lawn, which Christy that for sure were dead, also suddenly sprouted leaves. So…much of our weekend was spent mowing the lawn and digging up weeds. Just another adventure you get to have once you become a homeowner.
I was a little concerned about skyrocketing utility bills, but our electricity bill has been around the $100 level. This is without having to use any heat or A/C. In retrospect, I guess it was good that we bought a smaller house, as opposed to all the fancy, two-story homes we had looked at previously. Some of my colleagues here at work, who have much bigger homes than me, pay about $300 a month for their electricity. Our water bill is about $70. Again, much higher than I used to pay, but not shockingly high, considering we use the washing machine and dishwasher frequently.
I guess my biggest shock is when I get my mortgage bill every month and I see that only about $150 of my payment is going to the principal on our house. The rest is going to interest and escrow. No wonder it takes so freakin’ long to pay off a mortgage. I was told that once you buy a house, you normally spend your first few years paying off the interest, but this is ridiculous.
(Picture: our once brown backyard, now green and full of weeds)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Kyle's 3rd Birthday
Kyle turns 3 years old today. Unlike Sara's big, 5th birthday party, we decided to do something smaller for Kyle, and just have a small, family party.
Unfortunately, now that Kyle is 3 years old, he can't get into places for free anymore. So, maybe instead of having family outings to Disneyland or Six Flags or Sea World, we'll have more outings in our backyard. :)
Unfortunately, now that Kyle is 3 years old, he can't get into places for free anymore. So, maybe instead of having family outings to Disneyland or Six Flags or Sea World, we'll have more outings in our backyard. :)
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Art of Phlebotomy
So last weekend I took a crash course in "Basic Phlebotomy Skills" and by the end of the weekend, I became certified.
What is Phlebotomy? Basically, it's drawing blood from patients in a laboratory. I have to be honest, though, I had never even heard the word "phlebotomy" until recently.
The hospital where I work sent out an email offering free classes at Austin Community College, so I took them up on their offer. I figured, why not? Working in the lab would probably be better than what I'm doing now, and it pays more too.
For a good portion of the class, we had to practice on fake arms filled with red dye. Then at the end of the class, we were practicing on each other. That was fun. I thought I'd be a little nervous sticking someone with a needle, but I had no problem when my time came around. It was easy.
So when I came back to work I emailed my supervisor, telling her that I'm ready to start "sticking" people. She then goes on to tell me that to be certified with the hospital, I have to schedule time in the lab (during my time off), and perform 20 "sticks" while under the supervision of a lab tech. Wow, I was kind of surprised. It seemed as though she was trying to put up some road blocks for me to achieve the certification that the company was providing us.
"It's so obvious what they're doing." said a coworker. "They think that all of us will quit our current jobs and get lab jobs."
Yeah, she's right. That's exactly what I would do.
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Re-Birth of Healthcare Reform
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to save people."
-Tony Benn, British Labour Politician
....And with that, healthcare reform begins.
Wow, it was exactly a month ago when I was lamenting on the fact that healthcare reform was probably dead. But...like a Taiwanese in-law, it's back again!
Like I had said before, it's not a perfect fix, but it's a start. What's amazing to me is how many people believe all the misinformation that's been going around. Some of my "friends" on Facebook are shouting things like "SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR FREEDOM!" or "THIS IS HOW SOCIALISM STARTS!" (FYI - these people aren't really my friends, but people I might have known 20 years ago that decided they wanted to add me on Facebook....just wait till they read my blog, then maybe they'll delete me. hehe)
Just exactly how are we losing our freedom? Here is FACT #1, from the "Politifact Website":
1. The plan is not a government takeover of health care like in Canada or Britain. The government will not take over hospitals or other privately run health care businesses. Doctors will not become government employees, like in Britain. And the U.S. government intends to help people buy insurance from private insurance companies, not pay all the bills like the single-payer system in Canada. The key parts of the current U.S. system -- employer-provided insurance, Medicare for the elderly, Medicaid for the poor -- would stay in place. The government would create health insurance exchanges for people who have to buy insurance on their own, so they could more easily compare plans and prices.
Does this sound like a government takeover? Hardly. If anything, it's going to give people MORE freedom to choose.
Now, FACT #2 is one of my personal favorites:
2. Insurance companies will be regulated more heavily. They will be told the minimum services they must cover, including preventive care. They will have to pay out a certain percentage of premiums for patient care. By 2014, when the exchanges open, insurers won't be able to deny customers for pre-existing conditions
Regulation is exactly what the insurance industry needs. Oh man, do they need regulation. Insurance companies are evil, greedy bastards who will figure out any loophole to keep from paying your claims. I wish this regulation started right now.
Now, someone like me, who's not dirt poor, but not wealthy either, my insurance will probably stay about the same. My premiums might actually go up a little bit, but with that increase will come better coverage. If me or someone in my family gets sick, maybe I won't have to worry about losing our house to pay our medical bill. My only concern is if the premiums skyrocket, but from what I'm hearing, there will be a cap on premiums, depending on your income.
The Republican politicians hate this bill. Absolutely loathe it. If they didn't have to resort to racial slurs outside the Capitol building, and shouting "Baby killer!" inside, maybe they'd get a little more respect from me. Their pockets are lined so deep with insurance company cash that they can't see the big picture. The money that is being spent is for a common good. It's not being spent to attack sovereign nations or bomb wedding parties in distant countries. It's not being spent to build weapons. It's not being spent to build an empire in the middle east. It's being spent right here on the citizens of the USA, to give people healthcare who wouldn't have it otherwise.
Speaking of the "baby killer" remark. I was really, really hoping that the person who shouted that wasn't a senator from Texas. But...guess what...it was! Another embarrassing moment for Texas, I'm afraid. I'm a reluctant Texan, but I've made it my home, so I really hope that someday we can get out of this stigma of being labeled a state full of uneducated hicks. Watching Bill Maher last Friday night, he made this joke about Texans wanting to change school textbooks:
"The only use that Texans have for textbooks is to stand on them to watch football games."
Of course, after bashing Texas, he went on to say he would be appearing live in El Paso on April 3rd. Still, is Texas always going to be the butt of jokes? I hope one day it's not.
So...there are my thoughts on the current state of healthcare reform. I know of at least one person who will benefit greatly from this bill. My ex-mother-in-law. She's been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Now she'll be able to get insurance.
Good job dems. Now start working on a public option, create more jobs, and start reigning in the banking industry.
-Tony Benn, British Labour Politician
....And with that, healthcare reform begins.
Wow, it was exactly a month ago when I was lamenting on the fact that healthcare reform was probably dead. But...like a Taiwanese in-law, it's back again!
Like I had said before, it's not a perfect fix, but it's a start. What's amazing to me is how many people believe all the misinformation that's been going around. Some of my "friends" on Facebook are shouting things like "SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR FREEDOM!" or "THIS IS HOW SOCIALISM STARTS!" (FYI - these people aren't really my friends, but people I might have known 20 years ago that decided they wanted to add me on Facebook....just wait till they read my blog, then maybe they'll delete me. hehe)
Just exactly how are we losing our freedom? Here is FACT #1, from the "Politifact Website":
1. The plan is not a government takeover of health care like in Canada or Britain. The government will not take over hospitals or other privately run health care businesses. Doctors will not become government employees, like in Britain. And the U.S. government intends to help people buy insurance from private insurance companies, not pay all the bills like the single-payer system in Canada. The key parts of the current U.S. system -- employer-provided insurance, Medicare for the elderly, Medicaid for the poor -- would stay in place. The government would create health insurance exchanges for people who have to buy insurance on their own, so they could more easily compare plans and prices.
Does this sound like a government takeover? Hardly. If anything, it's going to give people MORE freedom to choose.
Now, FACT #2 is one of my personal favorites:
2. Insurance companies will be regulated more heavily. They will be told the minimum services they must cover, including preventive care. They will have to pay out a certain percentage of premiums for patient care. By 2014, when the exchanges open, insurers won't be able to deny customers for pre-existing conditions
Regulation is exactly what the insurance industry needs. Oh man, do they need regulation. Insurance companies are evil, greedy bastards who will figure out any loophole to keep from paying your claims. I wish this regulation started right now.
Now, someone like me, who's not dirt poor, but not wealthy either, my insurance will probably stay about the same. My premiums might actually go up a little bit, but with that increase will come better coverage. If me or someone in my family gets sick, maybe I won't have to worry about losing our house to pay our medical bill. My only concern is if the premiums skyrocket, but from what I'm hearing, there will be a cap on premiums, depending on your income.
The Republican politicians hate this bill. Absolutely loathe it. If they didn't have to resort to racial slurs outside the Capitol building, and shouting "Baby killer!" inside, maybe they'd get a little more respect from me. Their pockets are lined so deep with insurance company cash that they can't see the big picture. The money that is being spent is for a common good. It's not being spent to attack sovereign nations or bomb wedding parties in distant countries. It's not being spent to build weapons. It's not being spent to build an empire in the middle east. It's being spent right here on the citizens of the USA, to give people healthcare who wouldn't have it otherwise.
Speaking of the "baby killer" remark. I was really, really hoping that the person who shouted that wasn't a senator from Texas. But...guess what...it was! Another embarrassing moment for Texas, I'm afraid. I'm a reluctant Texan, but I've made it my home, so I really hope that someday we can get out of this stigma of being labeled a state full of uneducated hicks. Watching Bill Maher last Friday night, he made this joke about Texans wanting to change school textbooks:
"The only use that Texans have for textbooks is to stand on them to watch football games."
Of course, after bashing Texas, he went on to say he would be appearing live in El Paso on April 3rd. Still, is Texas always going to be the butt of jokes? I hope one day it's not.
So...there are my thoughts on the current state of healthcare reform. I know of at least one person who will benefit greatly from this bill. My ex-mother-in-law. She's been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Now she'll be able to get insurance.
Good job dems. Now start working on a public option, create more jobs, and start reigning in the banking industry.
(...and to Sara and Kyle, the country just became a slightly better place for you to live in.)
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