Integrated Man

Community

As one of my amusements, I'm a ham operator, N1MVM.  Hams, like other hobbyists, tend to have areas of special interest.  Mine happens to be public service and emergency communications services during disasters and lesser emergencies.  Usually, I participate in low-level events like providing communications support for non-profit fund raising events.  Other of my fellow hams have responded to tornadoes, hurricanes and more severe events that invoke the motto of Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES): "When all else fails"  My call this Friday was to respond to a search and rescue request in eastern Connecticut.

Reflecting on Jobs... Steve Jobs

This tribute is somewhat unlikely coming from me, but well earned by its recipient, though not for the reasons most obviously stated in the news.

First, I mourn Steve Jobs passing as a human being, apart from his accomplishments, his impacts, the externalities of his existence. He is large and unique in my awareness because of all those trappings, but they should not be primary measure of his meaning and value.  Ultimately, he was a human like all of us, born into this life with certain innate abilities and shaped by acquired values that gave those abilities direction and drive.  He was most importantly the embodiment of the potential that all of us possess in varying degrees, but rarely exercise to potential.

Obama Was Right on Health Care

Obama was right to make health care his number 1.2 priority (along with propping up the financial system long enough for it to a) sort itself out or b) subject it to more responsible regulation (neither of which have occurred to date). I recognize that this flies in the face of conventional wisdom as proffered in the business and political punditry. Whatever.

But if you believe that the strength of the private sector, the preservation of jobs, and the control of the long term trajectory of the public debt at all levels are critical, then I would argue unequivocally that health care was and is the single most proactive strategic initiative that Obama could pursue.