Webs’ Random Ideas

Within the last year or so I have stepped up my guitar playing.  Instead of being a novice, I would say I am an advanced novice… if such a thing exists.  But lately I haven't found much time.  I have been busy doing other worthless crap.  So I decided to start playing more.  Music is one of those wonderful things people on this planet have come up with.  I don't know what I would do without it.  I could seriously sit in a room completely silenced and have the music in my head to keep me company.  I just wish I was better at the guitar so I could play all my favorite songs.  But anyways, I started again and I really enjoyed it.  The thing that really amazed me was that I was able to pick up the guitar and start playing as if I never stopped.  I thought I would have re-teach myself some things, but I was able to play a lot of things I was able to before with little trouble.  And I quickly taught myself some new things.  If any of you have never picked up an instrument in your life, or if you've set one down, I strongly urge you to pick it back up and give it a shot.  I bet you'd be pleasantly surprised.

After my roommate and I moved into our house, we noticed that the washing machine took forever to fill up.  At first it was just slow.  Then after awhile, it got really bad.  At it's worst moment, the water would barely trickle down.  So I went on the Internet after I got to the point of having no clothes, and found advice that recommended to replace the water valve.  This is the thing in the back of the washer where the cold and hot water lines connect to the washer.  The valve essentially decides how much of each water type to let in per your selection on the machine.  So after we got the new part… Night and day difference.  Wow.  I couldn't believe how fast the water comes in now.  I thought, when I first moved in, that we just got stuck with a crappy washer.

So as a tip, if your washer fills up incredibly slow, check out the valve in the back.  It is incredibly simple.  Just turn off the water lines, unplug them and the electric plug for the washer, unscrew the mounting bracket for the valve, and then pull it out, or position it so you can unplug a couple more things.  For the water line going to the washer you should see a big thick black rubber hose.  Loosen it up, and unplug it, this step might take a little muscle.  The last thing you should see are four electrical wires plugged into the valve.  Label them in a way so you wont get confused as to how they plut back in place, my roommate and I labeled them 1,2,3,4, in the order of left to right starting from the side where we unplugged the big black rubber hose.  Then from there we went to a store called "Parts Depot" on Main street located across from the old high school.  That store had everything, including the part we needed.  I would say the whole job of taking it apart, and putting it back together took 30min to 45min.  If I had to do it again it would probably take no more than 15minutes.

53% of media reports suggest that there is no global warming consensus.  Even though 928 articles from scientific journals show that there is a 100% consensus on global warming existing.  It's nice to see the media still believes in scientific evidence.  Thanks to Crooks and Liars for the link!

So I frequently get into debates with people on issues of socialism.  Luckily many people I debate these issues with are past the whole socialism = communism point.  I think though I should start this post of the right way.  We are not living in a Capitalistic society.  In case you blinked while reading let me re-type that, WE ARE NOT LIVING IN A CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY.  Yes our economy is based off of a capitalist one, but the key word here is based.  If we were a capitalist economy then not raising the minimum wage makes sense.  But we are not a true capitalist society, so raising the minimum wage actually helps the economy, more than hinder it. 

As it currently stands, the Federal minimum wage is 5.15/hour.  Multiply that by 40 hours a week and you get $206 dollars a week.  Or roughly $824 a month.  Lets see how easy it is to live on that.  First of all, if someone is making minimum wage for full time work, we should assume they have no health insurance.  And for the sake of simplicity lets assume they have no kids (which for real life scenarios is a good thing, because affording kids would be impossible).  So lets assume an average amount of rent for one person is $500, which includes water in a gas, at an apartment complex.  For one person electricity will probably average about $50 a month.  Lets also assume they have cable and Internet, like most people do, which is about $55 at the least, depending on where you live it can be more.  The person also probably has a phone, whether it's a local or cell phone, will add about another $35 a month at the minimum.  Assuming this person lives in an area with decent transportation, and they take city transportation, leaves a lot more expenses out of the equation, not everyone is this fortunate.  If this person sticks to crappy cheap food that they get at the supermarket, which would be reasonable, they are probably looking, at a minimum, of $100 a month on food.  So, so far we have 824-500-50-55-35-100.  Which comes out to $84.  That is all this person has left for clothes, and anything else that might come up.  I hope my hypothetical person doesn't get sick.  Not because he would have to pay, no our tax dollars cover those that cannot pay, but because if our person misses one day of work, say goodbye to about half of that $84.  Oh wait, I forgot to add in one more thing to my example… taxes.

Well enough on the example, lets move to another issue.  Health care.  According to a fellow blogger that found some interesting statistics on health care, "41 million people in America had no health insurance in 2005."  And as I stated previously, who ends up paying for the health problems of these people, WE DO in the form of tax revenue.  So making the capitalist argument that having the government set up a free health care system would hurt our economy is again a weak point to make, since we already are paying for the health care of others.  What is my proposal on this issue, glad you asked.  If I were president, I would implement a free health care program where the government foots the bill.  You need to get a cast for a broken arm.  Simple, go to any hospital you want, show them your health care card, and if you do not have one a photo ID.  They will look you up to make sure you are registered in the USA Health Care program, and if you are you get the care you need.  Otherwise, sorry, you need to be registered.  If you are eligible for the program, but for whatever reason you haven't registered, then after you get the care needed (if it is an emergency or high priority) then you will register at the hospital.  If your injury is life or limb threatening, then appropriate care will be provided as your information is looked into.  This is just my preliminary idea, I am sure more intelligent socialists could come up with some better ideas, or ideas that improve upon mine.  I am trying to simply point out that as of right now there are people that have to make the choice of seeing a doctor, or dentist, or buy groceries.  No person in the wealthiest country in the world should have to make that decision.  I simply cannot fathom the decision of, "Do I feed my kids today, or take one to the hospital." 

Will free health care stifle innovation and hurt efficiency in the health care industry.  Not likely.  On the topic of efficiency, people will vote in politicians that know how to spend tax revenue efficiently in the health care system.  On the topic of innovation, programs on the side could be created to reward innovation, with lower business taxes to companies that spur innovation.  Or we could implement a capitalist measure to reward innovation through a credit system, so on and so on.  But to say that the money we are currently spending on health care with tax revenue does not out-wiegh allowing people to have free health care is ridiculous, as is not raising the minimum wage.

I would like to finish this post by saying THANKS to the US government for taking a shit on the poor, and those that cannot afford private health care. 

So when is WB gonna come out with the Animaniacs TV show on DVD.  I think if they did it would sell out in the first week it appeared on shelves.  I mean come on, it's only the greatest TV show ever made.

An Important Message From Al Gore!

It's what happens to computer techs when they don't do their normal tech work for awhile.  My job prior to the start of this summer was working as a computer lab technician at a Midwestern university.  Unfortunately my job is only budgeted for the fall and spring semester, so during the summer I don't have a job.  The guys I work with/for are nice about it, and offer me a lab monitor position, and they pay me a similar wage.  So unless they have computer work for me, I get paid to work on my website, and/or read. 

Now don't get me wrong, I have little beef with my situation as it stands, but unfortunately, with little computer work, I get anxious and rusty.  Most recently I was tasked with replacing a motherboard in one of the Dell systems, and I did the job as normal, in about 8 or 9 minutes time.  But when I tried to turn the system on I got nothing.  I opened up the computer, checked the cables, reseeded the memory and tried again.  But again the same issue.  Upon further inspection I noted that the power supply fan spins, and the motherboard LED is lit, signifying power to the motherboard and a working power supply,  but the system won't start up.  So I left the computer with my boss, seeing how I didn't want to leave the lab post I normally sit at.  The next day my boss tells me to call Dell.  After sitting on hold while the support tech is gathering info, I open the system up for one last look (this is consequently how all tech stories sound when they reach the end) and noticed the cable that interfaces the power LED and power switch with the motherboard is unplugged.  In 6 years of computer tech work I haven't made that mistake since my first year of work.  The most basic principle of replacing anything is to check that everything you unplug gets plugged back into it's original spot.  Since everyone in my field has made this mistake at some point, I just feel like a Dum Dum and laugh at my own error.

Kind of makes you think…  Video on Democratic Policy Committee that held a hearing on pre-war intelligence.  Another hat tip goes out to Crooks and Liars.

Just as a note to anyone using the DiggIt plugin.  Version 1 currently fails XHTML validation in several areas.  I found the errors and fixed them.  If you want a validated version feel free to email me below using the form, or check with the author to see if a new version of the plugin is posted.

These are some links from blogs that I check out every once in a while.  The first two and the last two are hilarious, the one in the middle is just sad. 

Wake UP!!!!!

Pillsbury Dough Boy Died?

Jon Stewart Hurting Democracy, or Stupid Fucking Idiot Writes Article With Baseless Claim

Doug Stanhope Joins the Rank of Americans That are Willing to Speak Out… I Mean, are a Terrorist 

Bill Hicks Does Drugs… Huh go Figure