I’m in the middle of The Benefit and The Burden (which is very interesting, albeit un-engaging and somewhat repetitive) and it has me thinking taxes. There’s so much standing in the way of fairness when the federal government raises revenue, and no matter where you try to fix things, someone gets burned.

While there are no doubt more impactful angles, as I put down my Kindle-via-iPhone in response to the fresh green light last week, I wondered if one of the problems isn’t the vast chasm between the individual and the Federal Government. The former pays the latter and expects the latter to serve … but the latter isn’t really configured to serve the former; it’s made to serve something in between (the States). The States, too, aren’t made to serve the individual, but the municipality – and there we finally reach the level positioned for the originally sought service.

I like the plan … because I know it’d die at step one.

Good point about the extra payroll each month. Didn’t think about that.

Also, I agree on the savings … But that isn’t my issue. (I have plenty of savings.) My problem is getting paid less because I happen to start working on a month with more days.

As for whining, I thought what I was doing was closer to … Well … Math. Maybe I missed something, though.

You didn’t address my point: Rate of ingestion matters. Interaction with other ingested items matters. Workload of your liver matters.

Are you ignoring these complicating factors? Or do you really think there’s no interaction?

Yes, I am.

You keep using reductionism to argue this. I don’t accept that this is as simple as comparing fiber and sugar content. For example:

Not all of the metabolic effects. Your body responds to the rate at which you fuel it. So, if an apple feeds your body fructose at a slower rate, your body handles it differently.

This is interesting, but there’s a lot more going on here. First, I know a good number of Mormons in Texas who identify with the Tea Party movement, and many of them didn’t like Romney and had resolved to write someone in. Also, I know many more liberal Mormons now than I did four years ago.

So, IMO, this tells us more about the political affiliation of Mormons than it tells us about Romney-vs-Bush popularity among Mormons across the board.

And I didn’t even read the article.

:/

… if you assume some required (mass?) ratio for digestion effects. What’s your justification for that?

Sucrose is part fructose, part glucose. You should really watch the video link I sent, but if you want a more accessible explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucrose

Completely disagree. In fact, this sort of thinking is exactly what the article is about – and one of the major things that keeps Americans unhealthy despite their affluence.

Maybe have a toggle on the newest page to show it either way?

I think default should be based on article/link post timestamp, though.

Another rule of thumb: Eat whole foods.

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/why-whole-foods-are-more-sum-their-parts1

Music I bought in the third quarter of 2012:

It amazes me that the vast majority of educated Americans don’t know what it means to be healthy. They think if they keep their waistline, heart rate and cholesterol numbers in check, then they’re good to go.

Wrong.

Health is complex

Health is complex. To illustrate, think of the following items and jot down if you think they’re good or bad for your health … or if it depends. Really, take it like a quiz.

• Fat

I’ve used various song rating systems over the years, usually trying to find a meaningful definition for each of the six available ratings (not rated, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). The ratings were there, so I should use them … right?

Well, no, actually. I realized after years of rating and playing that I really only need to classify songs I own in three ways:

• Songs I want to hear on the large playlist I listen to in the car and at work

Music I purchased in the second quarter of 2012:

• Bear Vs Shark – Right Now, You’re in the Best of Hands
• Beecher – Breaking the Fourth Wall
• Bled, The – Heat Fetish
• Bullets and Octane – In the Mouth of the Young – Some good tunes, but not enough of them. It’s almost like they’re forcing it to work.
• Bush – Sea of Memories – Nice to see they’re back in action, but this is one I probably won’t return to often. Not that I regret getting it; my tastes have just moved on.

Music I purchased in the first quarter of 2012:

• Asking Alexandria – Reckless and Relentless
• Blackout, The – Best in Town
• Classic Crime, The – Acoustic EP: Seattle Sessions
• Day to Remember, A – What Separates Me from You
• Demon Hunter – The World Is a Thorn
• Distillers, The – Coral Feng – Not quite as much angst on this one, but still top-notch (and slightly poppy) punk.
• Four Year Strong – Enemy of the World