Comments for Survival Machine http://www.survivalmachine.org Science Science Revolution! Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:39:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on An adventure to the great outdoors. by simian http://www.survivalmachine.org/2008/05/14/an-adventure-to-the-great-outdoors/comment-page-1/#comment-52020 simian Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:39:54 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=52#comment-52020 From your website I assume you are in the UK? I should clarify that the rule specifically applies to dogs; I don't think there are specific rules banning pets such as cats, and horses in fact are welcome in many (but not all) public parks. Not allowing dogs in public areas is very common in the USA. I agree that it's very unfair. As long as they are leashed and cleaned up after, why does anyone care? Nevertheless, Assateague Island National Seashore (which is adjacent to the Maryland State Park I referred to) DOES allow leashed dogs. So whenever I go camping there, I always go to AINS instead of AISP. Our National Park Service in the USA is much more reasonable and progressive than Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, which operates our state parks. Paradoxically, though, the Green Ridge State Forest is operated by the Maryland DNR, and they have no problem with dogs. They rarely even enforce leash laws there, and so it's a great place to go hiking with an energetic dog that needs to run ahead of you on the trail to chase squirrels or just get extra exercise. From your website I assume you are in the UK? I should clarify that the rule specifically applies to dogs; I don’t think there are specific rules banning pets such as cats, and horses in fact are welcome in many (but not all) public parks. Not allowing dogs in public areas is very common in the USA. I agree that it’s very unfair. As long as they are leashed and cleaned up after, why does anyone care? Nevertheless, Assateague Island National Seashore (which is adjacent to the Maryland State Park I referred to) DOES allow leashed dogs. So whenever I go camping there, I always go to AINS instead of AISP. Our National Park Service in the USA is much more reasonable and progressive than Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, which operates our state parks.

Paradoxically, though, the Green Ridge State Forest is operated by the Maryland DNR, and they have no problem with dogs. They rarely even enforce leash laws there, and so it’s a great place to go hiking with an energetic dog that needs to run ahead of you on the trail to chase squirrels or just get extra exercise.

]]> Comment on An adventure to the great outdoors. by monicab http://www.survivalmachine.org/2008/05/14/an-adventure-to-the-great-outdoors/comment-page-1/#comment-52017 monicab Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:18:33 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=52#comment-52017 how can a public camping ground not allow pets into the area? how can a public camping ground not allow pets into the area?

]]> Comment on Ninja bears? by Cassandra Hernandez http://www.survivalmachine.org/2008/06/25/ninja-bears/comment-page-1/#comment-48323 Cassandra Hernandez Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:42:43 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=61#comment-48323 AWW THOES BEARS LOOK SO CUTE I CANT BELIEVE U ACTUALLY TOOK A PIC OF THEM FIGHTING THEY LOOK SO CUTE!!!!!!!!! AWW THOES BEARS LOOK SO CUTE I CANT BELIEVE U ACTUALLY TOOK A PIC OF THEM FIGHTING THEY LOOK SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!

]]> Comment on On Obama’s health care reform speech by simian http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/09/10/on-obamas-health-care-reform-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-46932 simian Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:30:42 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=196#comment-46932 All good points... I think it's absurd that the idea of raising taxes can't fly politically. Obama's too hung up on making the public competition with with private companies FAIR (i.e., not tax-funded). I think that the concern for capitalistic fairness in this matter is ethically dwarfed by the concern we should have for providing adequate care to everyone who needs it. Why is it alright for us to have a socialist mail-delivery system, a socialist system of public schools and universities, a socialist system of retirement security, a socialist system of defense, a socialist system of EVERY OTHER TAX-FUNDED THING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES... but if we spend even one cent of tax money on a public health care option, we're replacing the stars and stripes with a hammer and sickle and renaming Washington, D.C. to Leningrad? Conservatives who cry socialism on this have the intellectual maturity of an aborted fetus. All good points… I think it’s absurd that the idea of raising taxes can’t fly politically. Obama’s too hung up on making the public competition with with private companies FAIR (i.e., not tax-funded). I think that the concern for capitalistic fairness in this matter is ethically dwarfed by the concern we should have for providing adequate care to everyone who needs it. Why is it alright for us to have a socialist mail-delivery system, a socialist system of public schools and universities, a socialist system of retirement security, a socialist system of defense, a socialist system of EVERY OTHER TAX-FUNDED THING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES… but if we spend even one cent of tax money on a public health care option, we’re replacing the stars and stripes with a hammer and sickle and renaming Washington, D.C. to Leningrad? Conservatives who cry socialism on this have the intellectual maturity of an aborted fetus.

]]> Comment on On Obama’s health care reform speech by D'Glenn http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/09/10/on-obamas-health-care-reform-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-46930 D'Glenn Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:13:12 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=196#comment-46930 Ah, in that case, I can see the pitfalls of it by looking at the past. I used to be a customer of Kaiser Permanente, and it wasn't much like its roots by the time I ran into it. OT1H, there is, as you say, no incentive to waste money by ordering extra tests and procedures; OTOH, my doctor complained about only getting an <em>average</em> of five minutes per patient visit, which isn't really enough time for a lot of patients, and they used the gatekeeper system to nickel-and-dime me out of copays (four office visits and four fees, for what should have been <em>one</em> visit, just to jump through all the right hoops -- I'm not talking about proper followups, but what it took to get to the right place the first time), and every year the premiums went up and the benefits shrank. And the business office certainly didn't treat me like a member/shareholder; they treated me as a disposable customer, a profit/loss item to be counted. When I first heard the idea of HMOs explained, which did emphasize the maintenance angle (cut costs by helping people not get sick as often in the first place), it sounded really neat. My experience with HMOs (not just Kaiser) has not matched the marketing. Preventative stuff always seemed to be first to be cut when changes were made to policies, appointments took four to six weeks to schedule unless I invoked the magic phrase "difficulty breathing", and five-minute (usually more like three-minute) interactions mostly boiled down to, "What one complaint is at the top of your list? Here's a prescription. Schedule another appointment for the next health problem on your list." So for my 'patient-owned' insurance idea, there'd need to be some sort of safeguards against merely repeating the history of HMOs. Ah, in that case, I can see the pitfalls of it by looking at the past. I used to be a customer of Kaiser Permanente, and it wasn’t much like its roots by the time I ran into it. OT1H, there is, as you say, no incentive to waste money by ordering extra tests and procedures; OTOH, my doctor complained about only getting an average of five minutes per patient visit, which isn’t really enough time for a lot of patients, and they used the gatekeeper system to nickel-and-dime me out of copays (four office visits and four fees, for what should have been one visit, just to jump through all the right hoops — I’m not talking about proper followups, but what it took to get to the right place the first time), and every year the premiums went up and the benefits shrank. And the business office certainly didn’t treat me like a member/shareholder; they treated me as a disposable customer, a profit/loss item to be counted.

When I first heard the idea of HMOs explained, which did emphasize the maintenance angle (cut costs by helping people not get sick as often in the first place), it sounded really neat. My experience with HMOs (not just Kaiser) has not matched the marketing. Preventative stuff always seemed to be first to be cut when changes were made to policies, appointments took four to six weeks to schedule unless I invoked the magic phrase “difficulty breathing”, and five-minute (usually more like three-minute) interactions mostly boiled down to, “What one complaint is at the top of your list? Here’s a prescription. Schedule another appointment for the next health problem on your list.”

So for my ‘patient-owned’ insurance idea, there’d need to be some sort of safeguards against merely repeating the history of HMOs.

]]> Comment on On Obama’s health care reform speech by simian http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/09/10/on-obamas-health-care-reform-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-46924 simian Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:27:15 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=196#comment-46924 It actually sounds more like you're describing a private, non-profit health maintenance organization (HMO) such as Kaiser Permanente. And there are definitely some big advantages to that type of health care system. For one, the health care providers in the system are paid a salary rather than paid on a per procedure basis, so there is no incentive for them to waste money by ordering unnecessary diagnostic and treatment procedures. There's also a greater emphasis on health maintenance (hence the name) rather than on illness resolution... i.e., they don't wait for you to get sick before taking care of you. HMO's certainly aren't perfect; the biggest drawback, in my opinion, being that you are limited to receiving covered care from providers employed by the HMO. So, if you're not near one of their facilities and you have to go to the emergency room, well - you get it, I'm sure. But, its possible that the government option could be in this HMO model. My understanding is that a health co-op is nearly synonymous with an HMO. And if there were a federally organized co-op, it could be large enough to offer services across the country (perhaps by hiring providers on a contractual basis). So, hopefully this will still work out for the best. If possible, I'll drop my employer-sponsored health care to join the public plan. It actually sounds more like you’re describing a private, non-profit health maintenance organization (HMO) such as Kaiser Permanente. And there are definitely some big advantages to that type of health care system. For one, the health care providers in the system are paid a salary rather than paid on a per procedure basis, so there is no incentive for them to waste money by ordering unnecessary diagnostic and treatment procedures. There’s also a greater emphasis on health maintenance (hence the name) rather than on illness resolution… i.e., they don’t wait for you to get sick before taking care of you. HMO’s certainly aren’t perfect; the biggest drawback, in my opinion, being that you are limited to receiving covered care from providers employed by the HMO. So, if you’re not near one of their facilities and you have to go to the emergency room, well – you get it, I’m sure. But, its possible that the government option could be in this HMO model. My understanding is that a health co-op is nearly synonymous with an HMO. And if there were a federally organized co-op, it could be large enough to offer services across the country (perhaps by hiring providers on a contractual basis). So, hopefully this will still work out for the best. If possible, I’ll drop my employer-sponsored health care to join the public plan.

]]> Comment on On Obama’s health care reform speech by D'Glenn http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/09/10/on-obamas-health-care-reform-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-46922 D'Glenn Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:40:10 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=196#comment-46922 <em>"In particular, I feel that private, for-profit health insurance companies represent a fundamental conflict of interest between investors’ expectation of profit and patients’ need for medical care."</em> This. This is my big problem with Obama's proposals. Too bad single-payer was never on the table. Though just now I had a thought regarding that conflict of interest inherent in insurance companies ... Banks have investors and customers and can make the investors happier by finding ways to screw the customers (as long as they don't screw 'em quite hard enough to chase them away); but <em>credit unions</em> have neither investors nor customers: they have <em>members</em>, and the very people a credit union is responsible to are the ones using its services. If we can't have government single-payer insurance (which does seem like the logical end of what starts with mandatory insurance), can we have health insurance that works more like a credit union, beholden to its patients, not a separate pool of stockholders? (Or is this what the co-op thingie I haven't paid enough attention to is about? From the wee bits I've caught it doesn't sound like it, but as I just admitted, I wasn't paying enough attention...) “In particular, I feel that private, for-profit health insurance companies represent a fundamental conflict of interest between investors’ expectation of profit and patients’ need for medical care.”

This. This is my big problem with Obama’s proposals. Too bad single-payer was never on the table.

Though just now I had a thought regarding that conflict of interest inherent in insurance companies … Banks have investors and customers and can make the investors happier by finding ways to screw the customers (as long as they don’t screw ‘em quite hard enough to chase them away); but credit unions have neither investors nor customers: they have members, and the very people a credit union is responsible to are the ones using its services. If we can’t have government single-payer insurance (which does seem like the logical end of what starts with mandatory insurance), can we have health insurance that works more like a credit union, beholden to its patients, not a separate pool of stockholders? (Or is this what the co-op thingie I haven’t paid enough attention to is about? From the wee bits I’ve caught it doesn’t sound like it, but as I just admitted, I wasn’t paying enough attention…)

]]> Comment on Ninja bears? by Breann http://www.survivalmachine.org/2008/06/25/ninja-bears/comment-page-1/#comment-46020 Breann Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:05:05 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=61#comment-46020 HIIIIIIIIIIIIIYAAA!!!!!!!!!!! I AM A NINJA (BEAR)SO WATCH OUT I KNOW KONGFO;) HIIIIIIIIIIIIIYAAA!!!!!!!!!!! I AM A NINJA (BEAR)SO WATCH OUT I KNOW KONGFO;)

]]> Comment on Happy Birthday, Nikola Tesla! by simian http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/07/10/happy-birthday-nikola-tesla/comment-page-1/#comment-42929 simian Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:44:37 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=172#comment-42929 You may be right, although the only difference is that I'd be wishing someone else a happy birthday - the sentiment would be the same :) By the way, I'm adding you to my blogroll. I also noticed you're in Toronto; I'm actually going to visit Toronto for a few days next week as my vacation! It'll be my first time in town. You may be right, although the only difference is that I’d be wishing someone else a happy birthday – the sentiment would be the same :) By the way, I’m adding you to my blogroll. I also noticed you’re in Toronto; I’m actually going to visit Toronto for a few days next week as my vacation! It’ll be my first time in town.

]]> Comment on Happy Birthday, Nikola Tesla! by Monado http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/07/10/happy-birthday-nikola-tesla/comment-page-1/#comment-42916 Monado Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:55:06 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=172#comment-42916 I think you would have them, but someone else would have invented them years later. I think you would have them, but someone else would have invented them years later.

]]> Comment on Ouranos ex machina by simian http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/04/28/ouranos-ex-machina/comment-page-1/#comment-34349 simian Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:47:04 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=167#comment-34349 Keith Olbermann told me it cost over $20,000 to build and launch, so, not so much. But it's still awesome that I'd have your permission! Keith Olbermann told me it cost over $20,000 to build and launch, so, not so much. But it’s still awesome that I’d have your permission!

]]> Comment on Ouranos ex machina by C http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/04/28/ouranos-ex-machina/comment-page-1/#comment-34337 C Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:10:43 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=167#comment-34337 Maybe you could build this in the lightwell. I'm sure the neighbors won't mind. Maybe you could build this in the lightwell. I’m sure the neighbors won’t mind.

]]> Comment on “It is time for us to lead once again” by simian http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/04/28/it-is-time-for-us-to-lead-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-34280 simian Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:19:02 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=160#comment-34280 Hah! Yeah, I was being semi-facetious when I suggested following the news on Twitter. However, if you're going to do so, might as well read the CDC's tweets. Hah! Yeah, I was being semi-facetious when I suggested following the news on Twitter. However, if you’re going to do so, might as well read the CDC’s tweets.

]]> Comment on “It is time for us to lead once again” by Mike http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/04/28/it-is-time-for-us-to-lead-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-34278 Mike Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:02:52 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=160#comment-34278 http://www.xkcd.com/574/ http://www.xkcd.com/574/

]]> Comment on (No) space shuttle launch tonight by simian http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/03/11/no-space-shuttle-launch-tonight/comment-page-1/#comment-29113 simian Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:34:17 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=153#comment-29113 Thanks for the comment. Sadly, it now looks like we have to wait until Sunday evening for a launch attempt. Let's hope they get the gaseous hydrogen vent line fixed before then! Otherwise, there will be a significantly longer delay before the next window of opportunity for launches. Just out of curiosity, how did you find my blog? I am trying to promote it a little bit, but I haven't had a lot of readers besides people I know in real life. So I'm curious to know where/how other readers are finding my blog posts. Thanks for the comment. Sadly, it now looks like we have to wait until Sunday evening for a launch attempt. Let’s hope they get the gaseous hydrogen vent line fixed before then! Otherwise, there will be a significantly longer delay before the next window of opportunity for launches.

Just out of curiosity, how did you find my blog? I am trying to promote it a little bit, but I haven’t had a lot of readers besides people I know in real life. So I’m curious to know where/how other readers are finding my blog posts.

]]> Comment on (No) space shuttle launch tonight by Mike http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/03/11/no-space-shuttle-launch-tonight/comment-page-1/#comment-30624 Mike Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:41:51 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=153#comment-30624 Hey Tim - there's an ISS flyover tonight for those of us on the East coast. Weather-depending, take a glance up around 8:09 and you may catch it. Brighter than Venus now that the latest module was added! Hey Tim – there’s an ISS flyover tonight for those of us on the East coast. Weather-depending, take a glance up around 8:09 and you may catch it. Brighter than Venus now that the latest module was added!

]]> Comment on (No) space shuttle launch tonight by News Review http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/03/11/no-space-shuttle-launch-tonight/comment-page-1/#comment-29066 News Review Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:40:50 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=153#comment-29066 Thanks for the info.. Looking forward to the launch.. Hope they could easily fix the problem so that the launch will finally be completed.. Hope there would be no more further launch delays.. Thanks for the info.. Looking forward to the launch.. Hope they could easily fix the problem so that the launch will finally be completed.. Hope there would be no more further launch delays..

]]> Comment on Simian on Simians by Survival Machine » Don’t mess with Pan troglodytes http://www.survivalmachine.org/2007/12/04/simian-on-simians/comment-page-1/#comment-26993 Survival Machine » Don’t mess with Pan troglodytes Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:01:30 +0000 http://blog.subspecies.org/?p=3#comment-26993 [...] is a common feature of chimp attacks.  I’d forgotten that I wrote about this in one of my very first posts on Survival [...] [...] is a common feature of chimp attacks.  I’d forgotten that I wrote about this in one of my very first posts on Survival [...]

]]> Comment on Reading List by simian http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/02/19/reading-list/comment-page-1/#comment-26992 simian Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:47:02 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=148#comment-26992 Thanks for the suggestion! I just noticed that the two female authors on my list's names are "Mary" and "Jane." I wonder if that was a subconsciously-planted subliminal message. Thanks for the suggestion! I just noticed that the two female authors on my list’s names are “Mary” and “Jane.” I wonder if that was a subconsciously-planted subliminal message.

]]> Comment on Reading List by C http://www.survivalmachine.org/2009/02/19/reading-list/comment-page-1/#comment-26963 C Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:03:33 +0000 http://www.survivalmachine.org/?p=148#comment-26963 I look forward to stimulating conversation as you delve into your list! I remember finding Beyond Freedom & Dignity by B. F. Skinner to be pretty interesting. I look forward to stimulating conversation as you delve into your list!

I remember finding Beyond Freedom & Dignity by B. F. Skinner to be pretty interesting.

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