What to do with a 9 year old for the summer.

I'm having a hard time with Helen, or more accurately the situation. Helen is here 1/3 of the time and since her school friends are naturally back in Vermont she wants to spend all of her time with me and has trouble entertaining herself. Her numerous games, crafts, science activities, etc are out of favor and she doesn't want to do them by herself. When I try to ask her what she does with her friends she gives vague answers like playing, having fun. I know the phrase "I'm bored" seems to be in every young child's repertoire but, Oui Vey what is one to do. Camp is out of the picture for this year partly due to Helen's wishes and partly do to the budget of a dad in grad school.

If anyone has some ideas or experience with this type of thing please share.

Too Cute Guinea Pigs

YouTube - Her Code: Engendering Change in Silicon Valley

YouTube - Her Code: Engendering Change in Silicon Valley

John Hodgman at Radio & TV Correspondents' Dinner

This is absolutely hilarious.

Breath Kevin Breath

So the enormity of it all hit me on the train to BWI with Helen this afternoon. Tomorrow I begin a new job as a Drupal CMS programmer at GMU AND, I am starting Discrete Math as the first of two summer classes. I know I'm up for the first but DM has kicked my ads once already. Wish me luck.

I wish I could spend the summer reading about economics, game theory, auction theory, and organizational management theory to name a few but I think my plate already floweth over.

Breath Kevin Breath.

Claritin 24 Hour Allergy Tablets, 4 - 30 Packs for $24.48

Well if you are anything like me you are suffering miserably from allergies right now. The pollen count in the DC Metro Area is really high. I saw this special on Amazon.com and figured out how to buy 4 packs of 30 for $24.48 with free shipping.

Claritin 24 Hour Allergy Tablets, 4 - 30 Packs for $24.48

• Order 4 packs
  
• Enter Code MAY9CLAR at checkout

I had to give my housemates 30 days notice to leave and feel like shit.

I had to give my housemates 30 days notice and feel like shit.   They are close to a month behind on the rent and want to start paying the following months rent in weekly installments.  The mom was pleading with me to let them stay.  She has a teenage son.

I've been told that this is not my fault, but I feel so guilty and horrible.  As many of you know I have been on the other end of broke and desperate which doesn't make what I did any easier.  There is also my political and ethical beliefs about being "my brother's keeper."   I'm honestly conflicted between the part of me that knows I have to do this as a matter of survival, and the part that tells me I have failed to live up to my values.  I'm not sure why I am writing this in a public space except I have to share this with someone other than my therapist.

Anyway I hope everyone in my circle is doing well.  We are going through such tough times as a country and I know that at least some of my friends and acquaintances have lost their jobs.  The old phrase about the broke college student is true and stressful but I know I am exceptionally lucky to have some sense of security and weather this out as a student.

Its getting late and I'm bushed.  I've been exercising a lot - great for stress and that 40 something donut.

Ciao

the algae sucking fish!

the algae sucking fish!
Originally uploaded by helenannesawyer

Helen totally loved this thing. It sucks algae off of the side of a fish tank. We saw this feller at the National Aquarium in DC.

Nora Month 10 - Nora breaks her pacifier and lovey out of crib prison.

MOVIE Nora Month 10 - Binkie Addict
Originally uploaded by kelly_diffily

Nora's First Steps

MOVIE First Steps - Assisted
Originally uploaded by kelly_diffily

My niece takes her first "assisted" steps. Wow!!

Frustrated with Stimulous

In my opinion it is a given that a mandate for change was overwhelming during the past election. It is frustrating that the O,Bama administration in collusion with the democrats in congress are compromising with the republicans by A) giving 42% of the bill to tax cuts which have resoundinglly been shown to have low economically stimulative effect and B) reducing spending AKA stimulous AKA creating demand.

This bill is too important for compromise and bi-patisionship. Mr. O'bama and democrats it is the time to spend some of your political capital rather than compromise.

Europe’s Grass-Lined Green Railways

One way to ameliorate climate change is to replace concrete with green, growing stuff wherever possible. Europe is showing that its green-grass railways is a good way to go. Say goodbye to heat-releasing tarmac!

read more | digg story

93-year-old freezes to death after city limits his electric

A 93-year-old Bay City man froze to death inside his home several days after the city limited his electricity for failing to pay his bills. When Schur's body was discovered by a neighbor Jan. 17, the temperature inside the home was less than 32 degrees.

read more | digg story

Robert Reich's Blog: How You and I Are Paying Wall Street.

Reich details how financial institutions that are receiving federal bailout money are turning around and spending heavily to lobby congress.

read more | digg story

Apparently the Obama Girls Didn't Like Mr. Bush

This one made me laugh.  I'm sure mom and dad will talk to the girls about being polite.  I feel for them being so under a microscope.

Stimulus Bill Thoughts

Long story short. It's absolutely necessary BUT we need to SLOW down and have public and congressional debate.

Common Sense Piece of Solving the Healthcare Crisis

I am listening to the KQED Forum Podcast about the state of the state and California's dire economic situation.  They mentioned healthcare which is a huge issue nationally and at all state levels.  I make no pretensions to being an expert on healthcare policy but some things seem pretty apparent to me.  At present many of the uninsured and/or underinsured are using emergency rooms instead of primary care providers.  This is bad from an economic and public health policy standpoint because it is a major expense that is being bourn by the hospitals and ultimately the economy that could be done both cheaper and more effectively with primary care providers. From my understanding hospitals are legally required to provide needed care.  Many doctors apparently do not accept patients who have public health insurance such as state children's health insurance, medicaid, etc. because the re-imbursement rates are too low.  It is also apparently fairly common where physicians will not accept certain private plans.  I believe that doctors deserve a "reasonable" payment for procedures from both public and private health insurance plans.  I also strongly believe that a condition of their state medical licensure should be the requirement that they accept all public health insurance plans.  This belief comes from a moral and practical political perspective.  Shifting the burden onto physicians in the short term will have the effect of causing a well funded and politically active group applying effective political pressure to finally fix this problem.  Health care and the economy in general are a mess.  We really need to look at our core values and priorities and bring some sense of equity and fairness back to public policy.

How to unlock your 3G iPhone.

How to unlock your 3G iPhone.

A new post over at crunchgear.