Sunday, July 31, 2011

Brief Note About Design Changes

Sorry about the frequency of design changes on the site. I'm new and figuring out things. If you have recommendations or stuff that you'd like or criticism or just want to tell me to STFU, here is your best place to make sure I read it.

Thanks for your patience.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Planned Parenthood Clinic Firebombed In Texas

Did you hear about this? Me neither: Planned Parenthood Clinic Firebombed, Right Wing Silent


Photo: Source http://www.salon.com/news/terrorism/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/07/30/planned_parenthood_terrorism

I really don't care what wing your on, this kind of domestic terrorism is inexcusable. To repeat from the article, the clinic does NOT provide abortion services.

Echoes of George Tiller ring in my head. Disagreeing with a practice is fine, but it's my body and my uterus. There is no true freedom in a country when a woman does not have the right to control her own reproductive organs. I would never inflict on another woman the kind of pain one has to deal with when faced with a pregnancy that cannot be ended; and I would never inflict on a child the pain of being raised in such a situation. Adoption is of course an answer, but realistically, there are people who recognize that they are not strong enough to see their child carried to term and then handed off to a more capable set of parents. I'm not.

Further, how many anti-abortionists do you see rushing to adopt those children? How many anti-abortionists have directly saved a life by adopting the child of a woman who previously considered abortion? (This is assuming the woman was not coerced of course, since that can have just as much trauma as any other situation.)

Abortion prevents crime, by preventing the birth of children into poverty (see Freakonomics). Preventing crime and poverty should be at the top of any politician's list, especially if they are seeking re-election. To hear silence on this from all sides, even in light of the manufactured debt crisis, is to silently consent to this sort of domestic terrorism. Unless you're Muslim, feel free to destroy our country's businesses and social services branches, especially if they are controversial.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Crises Looms; Will We Get Solutions?

UPDATE (7/31/11): A brilliant Farker posted this link to an episode of West Wing which explains the debt crisis perfectly. Notice as well, that this weekend it was announced that the Democrats and the Republicans are nearing a deal, two days before the country is due to default. We are watching a completely manufactured crisis that distracts voters from much more important issues, allowing Congresspersons to appear to do something while in fact doing little more than pushing off solutions for years and years. These deals always fail to address root causes, while making the players appear to win at a game of panning for Fool's Gold. All show, no substance, while the rest of us are left to deal with increasingly difficult conditions.

Latest news: Senate Kills Latest House Debt Measure

I'm not normally a prognosticator, but it occurs to me that there are really two paths in front of the U.S. now. Either we get our collective heads out of our rears and take a more European path towards social welfare and economic, political, and financial peace and security, or we continue upon this path of greed-driven, narcissistic, myopic, excessive consumption, in which the money all ends up in the hands of an elite few and the rest of the population is left to struggle under increasingly difficult living conditions.

Oh wait, we're already there.

Sound familiar? How about Russia and Germany in the early 1900s? In our drive to avoid communism and fascism, we've failed to realize that socialism can be promoted within a democratic context.

Personally, I don't agree with either the Democratic or Republican positions. Both fail to address root causes of the current economic situation, and simply delay accountability and action until the next election. Meanwhile, if people attempt to improve their situation by going to school more than 6 hours a week, they are disqualified for food stamps. Where does it make sense to anyone that a person would have to choose between starving and educating themselves? This is not the United States I want to live in.

I want to live in a country where help is there if needed, even in long-term contexts. I want to live in a country where the disabled, elderly, and disadvantaged are given jobs in the public sector, helping out others like them or providing valuable community services. For instance, in China, many older citizens are given jobs as town helpers if someone needs directions, a ride to the store, or various other possible jobs.

I want to live in a country where two cents of every dollar earned goes towards ending global poverty. I want to live in a country where the rich are discouraged from spending frivolously, where the poor are encouraged to seek education and employment, instead of having to choose between books or food.

I want to live in a country where corporations are rewarded for social activism, discouraged from cutting workers in order to increase profits, and where taxes are simple and fair.

These things are easily within reach. We just have take a minute to look at other countries and see what they are doing right. I don't believe there is anything any other country is doing that we can't do better. The only thing to lose is rich people's money, and they are the ones that can most afford it.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

How To Trust Your Mechanic


We've all heard the horror stories; you go to the shop to get your brakes done for $100, and before you know it you've gotten your oil and air filter changed, your transmission flushed, your brake caliper rebuilt, and a bill for way more than what you'd intended.

So how do you know whether or not you need all that stuff?

Picture source: http://www.howto-be.com/how-to-become-a-mechanic/

Owner's Manual
A car owner's best resource is the manufacturer's owners manual. This will help you out when confronted with a service writer or mechanic or manager who is trying to upsell you. Don't get angry at it; it's their job. They may have a policy that says they offer synthetic oil to all customers, regardless of need. You as a car owner need to educate yourself so that when you get that enthusiastic mechanic, you can confidently say, "Thanks, but I'm fine."

There are two concerns with using an owner's manual. The first is driving conditions. Unless you regularly drive your car on the highway or freeway AND minimally use your brake pedal, you are driving under "severe" conditions. This is all city driving, which is what the vast majority of us do. Sometimes an owner's manual will list separate charts for severe versus normal (which really should read optimal, not normal). If you drive under severe conditions, general guidelines for minor maintenance are 3K miles or 3 months for an oil change (you can go longer under certain conditions, like specially formulated oils). Air filters can be replaced once a year; exceptions here would include muddy/dusty driving conditions, etc.

Brakes - I'm going to make a special note here about brakes, because there is a very serious issue with CYA here. A mechanic CANNOT tell you how long your brakes will last, because if they fail before the time he says, he could be (and anedoctally, I've heard has been) held liable. I'll probably throw another post up here with how to look at parts, so when the mechanic says, "Here's why you need new brakes", you won't feel screwed.

The second issue with the owner's manual is that they don't always give you the necessary information. While the owner's manual might tell you that 87 octane fuel is fine and use 10W30 oil, it may not tell you how many quarts of oil your engine will need or what the torque requirement on your tires is.

Good Mechanic vs. Not So Good Mechanic

But what if you're not there for maintenance? How can you tell if she's doing a good job?

Regardless as to the personality of the mechanic, there are steps good mechanics take when they are looking at your car. Most mechanics follow some kind of step-by-step process when diagnosing what's wrong. Usually, these steps include some form of the following, but this list is neither meant to be exhaustive nor applicable to all situations; the mechanic may alter it as necessary:

1) Listening to what's wrong with the car. This is number one. You should not feel comfortable taking your car to a mechanic who listens to three words and then automatically already knows what's wrong, especially if they use terms you don't understand, like EGR valve, ignition timing, or long-term fuel trim. A good mechanic or service writer will be able to explain these things to you in easy terms. If they don't, they're dazzling you with BS (and they aren't likely to know what an EGR valve or long-term fuel trim is themselves).

2) Visual inspection. If listening is number one, this is number two. There are countless stories of this. Customer takes the car in to four different shops, only to find out that the problem was a disconnected spark plug wire. If the mechanic tells you that she knows what is wrong before she even takes a look, your BS detector should go off.

3) Scan data. Assuming the problem hasn't yet been solved, and relates to either engine or transmission issues, the mechanic will probably look at scan data. This is also the likely time for a test drive. A mechanic wants to know what the computer is doing while the issue is occurring. BUT: The computer does not tell the mechanic what exactly is wrong. The computer will list a parameter like this: LTFT +20. The mechanic will have to interpret this data, then figure out what is causing the problem. The computer does not say "Hey, you have a vacuum leak on cylinder 3."

4) Make the repair. You might laugh, but if this wasn't an issue, mechanics wouldn't be the least trusted people along with lawyers and used-car salesmen.

5) Verify the repair. Does no good to fix something if it isn't actually fixed. There is often an issue with what in the industry are called "parts-changers" (I'll say PC here). PCs will look at a problem, come up with something (it's your thermostat!), and replace the part without doing diagnostic testing. 3 months later, you're back at the shop because the thermostat failed again. The PC wasn't "wrong" in replacing the thermostat, especially if it actually wasn't functioning, but he failed to diagnose the underlying issue. Unfortunately, many customers' first experiences with mechanics are like this, and so they tend to distrust all mechanics.

A good mechanic will be open to you if you ask to see the busted part, though understand you may not be able to see the defect (for example, with an old catalytic converter). My favorite mechanics have always been ones who invite me to look under the car with them, but keep in mind at some locations this may be forbidden for insurance purposes (no one wants a customer to get hurt in their garage).

A special note to female customers: Yes, we get yanked around. It's really easy when you have a guy throwing big words at you to get a little confused and just start trusting them and agree. Don't. Ask questions. If you don't understand something, ask them to explain it to you. The more you understand about your car the better an owner you will be and the more money you'll save in the long run.

How Can I Help

Now, as important as it is to be a good mechanic, it will make the process far quicker and easier for all involved if you can be a good customer too.

1) Keep your maintenance records. One possible example: a failed smog can result from an engine rebuild. If the mechanic knows the engine has been rebuilt, it makes it much quicker to diagnose what's wrong than if the mechanic goes in cold without any backstory.

2) Know the context of the issue. What was going on when you had the problem? Were you driving fast, slow? Up hill, downhill? Had you been driving for 10 minutes or 2 hours? While these questions might seem stupid and picky, they reflect the different conditions the computer in your car has to adapt to while you drive. Even something as simple as where you hold the gas pedal when you're on the highway affects what the computer is telling the car to do. Some mechanics will give you a checklist to fill out; another good idea is to write a small story describing what you were doing when the problem occurred.

3) Ask questions. An uninvolved car owner is a car owner who is more likely to come back and frustrate the mechanic. If the good mechanic has told you to do something, ask questions if you don't understand her instructions. The good mechanic knows that if you follow it, you'll cause less headaches for you and her down the road. Which leads me to. . . .

4) Listen to your good mechanic. When you've found that good mechanic, hold on to them for dear life. But also make them want to hold on to you by listening to the advice they give you. This will result in less wear and tear on your car, you, and your good mechanic.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Unemployment Among Today's Lost Generation

UPDATE (7/27/11): I have since been on two interviews. Interview #1 went very well, except for waiting 20 minutes before meeting with anyone and hearing the receptionist call for four different people to come speak with me. Interview #2 I was told by the employee that the manager was at a meeting and would be back in one hour. I was a little ticked until I went to HR and found out that HR schedules appointments without knowing whether or not the manager is even available. However, when the manager finally arrived, I was told by the same employee that he would be unavailable to see me that day. Too much to ask for the courtesy of personally popping your head in and saying, "Hi, thank you for your patience but I'm so sorry I can't see you today. Can Employee Generic take your information?", especially when I know that even as little as 1 minute late might mean the difference between getting the job and remaining unemployed. It seems very strange, or maybe I'm just too old school now.

I couldn't have said it better myself: A generation of reluctant moochers

Many kids my age are painted as lazy, self-absorbed, spoiled. While you won't get an argument from me that many fit that description, the truth is that most of us don't want to sit on our parents' couches, eating our parents' food, driving on our parents' gas, and sleeping under our parents' roof.


It's killing us. In some cases literally, in the form of higher stress levels which lead to higher rates of health issues. I spend most of my energy looking for ways to develop income (both traditional and alternative), trying to find some happiness, and burdening my parents as little as possible. Many times, the best I can do is shower a little less, have one piece of toast instead of two, and go for the water and not the milk.

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, from website http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/older-workers-without-jobs-face-longest-time-out-of-work/)

I have no control over my kitchen. I cannot buy the groceries that I know I can use to make healthy meals. I cannot avoid food filled with high fructose corn syrup or preservatives or other public health hazards when I don't buy the groceries.

I'm just barely going to be able to finish school, and I know I'm not alone. Even though I hold a Bachelor's Degree, I went back to school for an Associate's in Automotive Service Technology because the BA was getting me nowhere in the job market. Through a combination of scholarships and tuition assistance (the government denied me any kind of grants because I was pursuing a degree lower than the one I already have), I should be able to finish in December, only because I have one class to take and no books to buy. If that weren't the case, it's entirely possible I'd have to drop out, wasting three years and about three thousand dollars, and that's just if you only look at direct school costs.

I hate it. I look nonchalant to the rest of the world because to dwell on it would make me sick. To people who worry that I won't move out of my parents' house because I'm comfortable should relax: I'm not comfortable. There is nothing comfortable about wondering if you are taking your showers too long, or going hungry just a little bit longer so you don't eat as much, or trying to keep your hopes up every time someone calls you with an interview for a job you'd otherwise be embarrassed to apply for.

I sincerely hope politicians can get their collective acts together and produce the necessary solutions soon. A block of population aged 18-25 that's bored and unemployed has been shown historically to be more violent and socially disruptive. Should things stay the same or even worsen, the U.S. post-collegiate population would become a tinderbox ripe for a match that could ignite a social movement more violent than the civil rights protests.

May whatever deity you believe in grant that things change soon.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

More Evidence The Republicans Aren't Helping

UPDATE: Sarah Palin has announced that her daughter-in-law became pregnant before marriage. Considering Bristol's already had her first grandchild, I wonder how secure Palin's opinion of abstinence-only is? Sarah Palin To Be A Grandmother Again

Apparently Governor Rick Perry has a bit of a learning disability: Why Are Texas Teens Getting Pregnant

In 2007, the article states, Texas had the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. Right after Perry instituted abstinence-only programs for sexual education. Deciding that wasn't good enough, the program continued, and in 2009, 94% of schools had no sex ed beyond abstinence-only.


Now, the pregnancy rate is 50% higher than the national average, and Texas also leads the country in REPEAT teen pregnancies.

I was going to post yesterday about this article (Birth Control Coverage Under Obamacare), but it seems my procrastination paid off this time, as both of these articles address the same thing.

Kids will make smart choices if you give them the tools to. At our cores we are the same animals with the same instincts as those we keep as pets, so we know we are fighting a losing battle when we tell kids not to have sex. Instead of telling them not to, and then pretending not to hear any other possible conversation, is no better than a teenager who wants to explore her sexuality safely but can't because she has no information. Kids need more information, not less.

I'm also a staunch believer that our school's sex ed fails because it fails to address sexuality. We teach biology fine. All things being equal, penis + vagina = baby. But how does penis + vagina = love? Or = pleasure? Or even = orgasm? My parents didn't have that convo with me. Did yours?

We have enough data on programs and services to be able to judge whether or not they are working. Once pollsters have had a chance to question Texans teens on WHY they are having unprotected sex and having children too soon, I suspect most abstinence-only programs will be on their way out.

Unless, of course, as a country we keep electing politicians who prefer holding their hands over their ears and ignoring all evidence that proves that what they are doing isn't working.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Letting The Big Girls Hang Out (potentially NSFW)

I have been bra-free now since Novermber 2003, almost 8 years. I have never looked back. I feel very strongly about going bra-free, because there are psycho-social issues about wearing a bra that make discussing going bra-free very difficult for most women.

When you bring up the topic, many women will cover their breasts with their arms, and most will at least stiffen up and hold their arms closer to their bodies. They become defensive, curl in their shoulders, and emotional. Many women can't discuss bras and their breasts without crying.

Why?

It seems to me that most women consider their bras armor, the same way a warrior wears his breastplate into battle. Same as a warrior, when a woman comes home, the first thing that comes off is that damnable bra. A bra shields the woman. . . from what, I have yet to figure out.

This association of a bra as armor breaks down even further when you think about what bras do and the stated reasons why women wear them: lift the breasts, support the breasts, look attractive, be comfortable. Let's address each of these.

1: Lift/Support
This is one the manufacturers have been trying to sell women for years. Your boobs are too big for your body to manage.

Let's completely ignore the fact that our bodies EVOLVED with the breasts on our chest. Let's also ignore that bras move the weight from the chest to the back and shoulders, often with the result of headaches, back pain, neck pain, and long-term discomfort.

The truth is breasts sag for two reasons: age and weight. Bras have very little to do with it. However, by going bra-free, you can "pick up" your breasts and make them look a little firmer. When you remove the bra, the pectoral muscles and connective tissue in your chest carry the weight of your breast. The first 48 hours of going bra-free are the worst as your muscles become accustomed to carrying weight. After that, the pain subsides rather quickly. In as little as a week, I was doing stairs and playing volleyball (and I'm large-breasted). Also, as most women will tell you, breasts reflect the weight of the woman, but when you've gained weight and then lost it, the breasts tend to sag a little as the result of the stretching.

The idea of wearing bras for your health has also faded. Bras have been linked to fibroids, chronic migraines, and cancer (though the cancer study is very controversial).

2. Look Attractive
Watch TV for 30 seconds, and I'd be surprised if you didn't see at least one example of a woman whose breasts are artificially lifted in order to promote her sex appeal. But what are we promoting? When you think of small, perky, firm, floating tits, who do you think of? Not a 30-yr-old woman with three kids.

Diane Naugler, Ph.D., currently a sociology professor at Kwantlen Polytech in British Columbia, did her thesis on breasts and found that, on average, the perky, firm-looking breasts produced by bras seemed to imitate a young teenage girl (14-16) with B or C cups.

Bras encourage a youth-focused sexuality, adding to the already-disconcerting problem of the sexualization of youngsters. We're trying to make 8-year-olds look 14 just as much as we're trying to make 30-year-olds look 14. Both are wrong. We should be comfortable with our bodies the way they are, not the way the TV tells us they should be.

3. Comfort
The comfort here is purely psychological. I've never known a woman who liked wearing bras so much she didn't take them off the second she got home.

The oft-quoted statement is that 70-80% of women are wearing the wrong-size bra, which contributes to the red indentations, back pain, neck pain, steel-wire-digging-into-your-armpit ugliness that accompanies bra wearing. But this statistic is inaccurate.

99.9999% of women are wearing the wrong size bra - the only exception to this are women who have their bras specially made, usually because the breasts are significantly different. The bra industry, like all other clothing, manufacture bras to standard sizes, sizes that do not necessarily have any basis in reality.

For a bra, the first number is the distance around your chest, underneath your breasts. The second measurement is taken around the chest but also across the nipples. For every inch of difference between the two measurements, add a cup size. 1" = A, 2" = B, 3" = C, etc.

But how many women would actually fit into this standard? Additionally, the measurement reflects both breasts, while the bra individually fits both, forbidding any possibility that the breasts are different sizes.

There is no comfort, support, lift, or attractiveness in wearing bras; there is only the knowledge that you wasted 70 bucks for something that doesn't even work the way it's supposed to and risks your health.

As always, I encourage people to take information into their own hands and use their own brains. Here are some resources if you or someone you know are interested in the subject:

http://www.007b.com/why_wear_bras.php

Going Braless.net (This site is best for its forum, a support group for women who go bra-free)

Burning the Bra: Feminist Pop Culture Revisited (Pops to download a PowerPoint presentation on going braless as feminist practice)

(FYI, the picture is a camisole, an undershirt that is a good alternative to bras, especially in the workplace.)

Saturday, July 16, 2011

The Republicans Are Not Interested In Helping You


It doesn't get much clearer than this folks, from Mr. Erick Erickson: House Republicans, This Is Your Time For Choosing

Choosing what, Mr. Erickson? Choosing to have unemployment at 25%? Your recommendations that House Republicans stick to their No guns will only have the effect of shooting ourselves in our feet. The GOP has consistently been out of step with U.S. opinion throughout the budget process, failing to meet essentially the first requirement of voters: Do your fricking job.

That doesn't mean say no because you can. That doesn't mean waste time and moan and complain until things are so critical it causes this mess. That doesn't mean being contrary.

Per Mr. Erickson, "Should the United States lose its bond rating, it will be called the “Obama Depression”. Congress does not get pinned with this stuff."

How stupid do you think the U.S. public is? Do you think we cannot see the frustration on Obama's face as once again the GOP has denied him on the very basis that it's him they have to agree with?! Do you think we don't see the statements you are making over and over again and realize that it's the GOP who is holding up the process?

19 polls released recently said that a majority of the U.S. public now recognizes that taxes must be raised (see here). The deficit cannot be cut solely by abolishing spending. The government requires some revenue to function, therefore the government requires taxes. I wonder if Republicans would continue to drop the tax rate until the government can no longer pay for the salaries. Then what? They take over and declare themselves Emperor of all of Rome?

If the U.S. public supports raising taxes, then the GOP needs to shut up and let the Democrats raise taxes. Really, the GOP has nothing to lose. They have fought valiantly against raising taxes. If they agree to it, and it causes the country to fall into depression, then they will be right, and the GOP will be able to say a giant "I told you so" to the U.S.

And here is where we get to the truth about Republicans. The rhetoric they are spewing isn't so much about the concern over the country if raising taxes fails to help the economy; they are concerned over what happens when raising taxes works. The Democrats get all the credit, and the GOP looks bad for delaying the solution to the U.S.'s faltering economy.

This is what the GOP is afraid of, and why they are fighting so hard against EVERYTHING Obama and Congressional Democrats throw at them. They aren't afraid of sending the U.S. into an economic tailspin; they are afraid the Democrats will win.

Kind of an interesting statement on the amount of power the Republicans think the Democrats have, huh?

Mr. Erickson goes on to talk about TARP, and how we have discovered the money was mostly allocated to banks. The economist's response would be "Of course you give money to the banks. The banks need the money to make loans to get the economy moving again." If Mr. Erickson had any true comprehension of credit markets, he would understand this. He would also understand that TARP failed not because it went too far, but because it didn't go far enough to help individual homeowners. Whose fault was that? Republicans. Republicans made TARP so unpopular that it failed to include a provision to protect homeowners, which helped deepen the recession. This article mentions that the stock market dropped 7% when Republicans "won" and beat TARP (Erick Erickson's Bad Advice).

Here's another great quote from Mr. Erickson: "If the President can force your hand by using entitlements as a lever to punish the American people if you don’t do as he wants, you will have established this as a precedent. From here on out, if you lose this fight, every time you balk at expanding government, social security checks will be withheld, medicare payments will be withheld, and in just a few short years, surgeries will be cancelled, vaccinations withheld, and hospitals shuttered."

Mr. Erickson, the President isn't trying to force your hand by using entitlements to "punish" the U.S. public. He is stopping payments because there is NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THEM, thanks to YOUR party's insistence on keeping unnecessary tax cuts that do nothing for the poor, because for the most part, the poor don't pay income taxes! How can you claim that a tax cut on yachts for millionaires will help a poor person? All it does is free up more money for the millionaire, so he can go buy another yacht, and drive up prices for everyone else! The tax cuts are what got us here!

Mr. Erickson spoke of the wisdom of refraining from making decisions based on fear. This statement by him is about as fear-laden as you can get. He suggests that Obama is a tyrant who will refuse necessary services to people in order to further his political means. A bit like the pot calling the kettle black, considering the Republicans are threatening to throw the U.S. into a second recession in order for them to keep their "high" ground, yes?

The recommendations to raise taxes to help the economy are not based out of fear. They are based from mathematical calculations and observation of other countries. Europe has tax rates that far far far exceed the U.S., yet they manage to pay for universal healthcare, education, among other services. Their gaps between the "rich" and the "poor" are far smaller than here in the U.S., and on average, they get to go on vacation for two months a year.

Would you be willing to pay 30% in taxes to guarantee good education for their kids, universal healthcare, guaranteed employment, and more equal income levels? I would. And I suspect the Republicans will find that the majority of the U.S. would agree with me.

The only beacon of light in all of this for Republicans? If they bail now, which it seems they are doing here, then I can see them successfully spinning it as "Well, we saw what the U.S. public wanted (in higher taxes), so we're willing to compromise now." It makes everybody look good, and the Republicans don't walk away with a broken country and a broken party. I just hope that the U.S. public remembers on election day that it was the Republicans who got us into this mess in the first place, Republicans who kept us down there, and Republicans who delayed us getting out it.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Sex Is Not A Turn-Off For Girl Gamers (potentially NSFW)

Probably another one of these blogs you want to read before you let your kid see.

Sex Is A Turn Off For Girl Gamers

Okay, first off, if the error is still there, I'm assuming the 70% they refer to who prefer sex over video games are meant to refer to either women (as in older women) or they typoed when they meant men.

Secondly, the headline is ridiculous. The idea of sex isn't a turn-off to most women, period, and if you ask, most of the time the turn-off has to do with something ABOUT sex, not the idea of a passionate sexual encounter resulting in orgasm. In my experience, women who are turned-off by the idea usually refer to something like the grossness of it, or the concern of where "that" has been, or the woman is stressed out and overwhelmed by other things, that sex becomes simply one more thing on her already long list of things to do. This article describes the connection between anxiety, stress, and a women's ability to get aroused. If thinking about sex with you stresses her out, of course she's not going to get turned-on.

Most girl gamers I know (including myself) have sex drives equal to or surpassing the average male's. The words I hear coming out of my male friends' mouths with regard to their girlfriends are the same words I hear coming out my female gamer friends' mouths with regard to their boyfriends. "She never wants it enough." "He never initiates."

This poll doesn't reflect that girl gamers are dis-interested in sex. This poll reflects the inability of sexual partners to provide sufficient satisfaction, not just from a sexual standpoint, but also from the relationship view.

It's well known women have issues getting aroused when there is tension in the relationship. For men, sex is method TO relax. Women need to be relaxed in order to want sex. Focus on making your woman as relaxed as possible, and she'll put down the controller to show you a good time.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Anonymity in Crowds

Join the Guinness Book of World records here! 2011 Stanley Cup Game 7, Vancouver, Georgia St

So let me get this straight. They are asking people to identify themselves (and probably others) on a composite image taken before (?) Game 7 in Vancouver. The same area that went on to riot. Does anyone else wonder that maybe the cops or investigators might pour themselves through every last pixel of information on those pictures to see if they can't pick out people they identify from riot footage?

Ha! Where's your Fifth Amendment now? (yes, I realize it's Canada, not the US, but Canada still has laws against self-incrimination, so it still applies - kinda)

Do we have a provision for that in either Constitutions? If you identify a picture of yourself on the internet, and it gets to a cop, and the cop uses that to ID you from other footage of you committing a crime, is it fair game in court?

A great example of how privacy, law,and the internet have collided to make situations like these still a little nerve-wracking. Have some foresight before you blindly tag yourself on someone else's attempt at the Guinness Book of World Records.

Oh, I haven't asked, but does the website allow you to petition to shop out your picture if you so desire? Hmm. Lots of issues here.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Benefits of Stem Cell Research, and a Rant

The article: http://news.yahoo.com/doctors-lab-made-windpipe-transplant-173306156.html

Seriously, guys, have we forgotten Christopher Reeve already? A perfect example of how stem cell research can be used in a positive, beneficial manner to help all of the human species. I wonder how much of a recession can be blamed on Bush banning stem cell research, even if only a fraction of a percentage? Obama has thankfully reversed that decision, but we are now years behind one of the less important (no offense) countries in the European Union - Sweden. This transplant did not take place in one of many prestigious U.S. hospitals, which for decades have been the foci of leading-edge medical research and practice. No, instead it took place Sweden.

I honestly mean no offense to Sweden. I've never been there, but I would love to visit. My family is Scandinavian. I'm sure they are a pleasant bunch of folk just like everyone else.

But SWEDEN??!!! What the hell has happened when the U.S. finds itself being beaten by France in health care, South Korea (?!) in education, Sweden in stem cell research and implantation. . . . I'd go on but I'm embarrassed enough.

Sweden. And South Korea in education. And we wonder why this country can seem to shake the shadows of recession and is still scared of the boogyman Depression.

Clearly there is something wrong with this country, but a disease down to the very core. These are cultural ills that must be excised. That will be painful, possibly as painful as the Civil War, maybe even more so.

I visited Europe recently. Watching CNN and the BBC, I noticed that the rest of the world seems to have realized that the U.S. has fallen from its economic perch and other countries have moved on accordingly. It is only in the U.S. do we cling to this ghost of an idea that we are superior in all things. We aren't. It's time to get over it.

Let's put our resources behind things that matter, like stem cell research, fixing tax legislation, regulating the financial sector effectively, abolishing the current FDA and putting in people who aren't former employees of the very companies they are supposed to be regulating so our food supply isn't unsafe. . . I could go on, but I'm working on it. I'll let you know when I'm ready.

I have a dream for the U.S. I want trend-setting, record-breaking, newsworthy technological advances like this to be set in the U.S., not Sweden. I want the world's best healthcare in the U.S., not France. I want the world's best education in the U.S., not South Korea.

I'm about action not talk. Do the research. Educate yourself. Then go vote for the guy who will support what you believe in, and if you can't find a guy who believes in what you believe in, run for office yourself.

Friday, July 8, 2011

A Proper Investigation Of The Check Engine Light

The offending article: Investigating the Dreaded 'Check Engine' Alert

I have an issue with any car article in which the very first piece of advice is to replace a ~200 dollar part. There are tests you can do to isolate the problem, which is why you take your car to a good technician or you learn how to diagnose it yourself.

Here is my guide to the Check Engine Light for 1996 cars and newer:

What is the Check Engine Light?
The Check Engine Light (or MIL, Malfunction Indicator Lamp) is an orange, yellow, or red light on your dash, that usually has some kind of picture of an engine, engine and text, or just text. These are not to be mistaken for the maintenance lights also commonly found on newer cars.

When does the MIL come on?
The MIL illuminates when the computer detects a problem with the car that would cause its emissions (polluting exhaust gases) to exceed 1.5 times federal standards (usually a type B code), or when there is a severe-enough issue with fuel management or misfires (type A codes).

When doesn't the MIL come on?
Obviously, the reverse is true, but just to reiterate: the MIL does not generally come on for type C and D codes. These codes usually apply to things like burnt out lightbulbs, climate control faults, seat heater issues, etc. It may also not come on for what's called a driveability issue that doesn't cause emissions to exceed 1.5 times federal standards; driveability issues are things that drivers complain about, like shaky steering wheels, stumbling on acceleration, overheating, and so forth. What this means is that you might notice a problem with the car's performance, like reduced gas mileage, but the light may not illuminate.

What does the MIL tell you?
The light itself only tells the technician that there is some kind of fault with the emission control systems on the vehicle. In order to get more information from the computer, we must plug a device called a scanner into a port on the car (usually under the steering wheel or near the glovebox). The scanner will allow us to pull what is called a code (remember the types A-D earlier?). The code does not tell you exactly what it wrong with the car; it only gives you a compass and a map. The tech must find the location herself.

This is important to remember. If your car has a misfire (in which no explosion is occurring inside the engine), the computer cannot tell you if it's because of a vacuum leak, low fuel pressure, lack of air flow, or issues with the electrical system (among other possible causes). If the tech is lucky, the computer may distinguish between LEAN MISFIRE CYLINDER 1, in which case the tech can then test for vacuum leaks or fuel pressure issues on cylinder #1, but rarely is the computer this helpful. It's similar to getting an error on Windows XP that gives you the file number 000x000.111-3223, but gives you no info on why the error occurred.

Is it an emergency if my MIL comes on?
Maybe. Having the check engine light on itself may not affect the car's performance noticeably, but a badly performing car will impact your wallet, by reducing gas mileage so you pay more for fuel more often and by paying more later on as the issue causes other problems, creating larger repair bills. You absolutely need to worry if the MIL is flashing; pull over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, as you either already need or will definitely need a new catalytic converter for your car - a $200+ part.

What are some common causes for a lit MIL?
Many things can affect the MIL, which is why I hesitate to give a "quick" guide. A scanner is really your best place to start, and different codes have different common causes. However, from what I've seen, most MILs tend to fall in one of three places:

1) Gas cap - A loose, damaged, or old gas cap can cause the car to fail EVAP, a self-test the car performs to ensure that gas fumes aren't escaping from the vehicle. Faulty gas caps can usually be detected by the odor. A good guideline is to listen for two or three clicks when tightening the gas cap after fueling.

2) Sensor issue - This issue occurs when the computer sees a reading from sensor that either doesn't make sense (rationality), opens (continuity), or shorts (functionality). Rationality only applies to post-1996 cars; pre-1996 only detected opens or shorts. A good example of a rationality failure is when the computer detects that the RPM has gone up, but the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) says the pedal hasn't moved.

3) Misfire - For repetition's sake, the lack of explosion inside the engine is called a misfire. Misfires can have many causes, but usually results from a fault in one of four basic systems: fuel, air, spark, compression. Unfortunately, pulling a code from the computer rarely helps you detect which system is at fault, so this is where diagnostic skills and following a good test procedure really come into play. I tend to pull the code, then go by checking the easy, visible stuff first (like loose spark plug wires). This helps save time and headaches later on down the line.

A note about scanners and sensors:
One of the most helpful diagnostic tools available to a technician is the live data stream accessed through the scanner. This allows the technician to view what the sensors are reading while the car is running, so the tech can view the problem "live", if the problem can be replicated. There is a very large caveat with this data stream: the computer will sometimes substitute a "good" value when it detects an issue with a sensor. Doesn't that sound annoying? The code will tell the technician that there is a problem with the O2 sensor, but when you look at the data the O2 sensor is putting out, it looks fine. Finding a savvy technician who is equipped, both mentally and literally, is a necessity.

How long does it take for the MIL to go out?
However many hours the bulb is designed to work for, if the problem isn't fixed. You might look at me funny, but it is a common story among techs for customers to show up and wonder what happened because their MIL went out - after having been on for as long as two years.

If the problem is repaired, there are two options. The technician can clear the code from the computer, essentially like hitting the reset button. The issue here is that all the car's self-tests (called monitors) are also reset, so before getting a smog test nearly all the monitors must be completed and passed or the car will fail smog. The second method is by driving the car. The MIL will clear after the previously malfunctioning component passes its test 40 times (the requirements for the test depend on the component, but can be as often as once per drive, or may require certain driving conditions be met, like sustained speed, engine temp, or fuel tank level).

What about older cars?
Hope you still have the owner's manual. In 1996, the EPA established OBDII, which standardized the information required of the manufacturers for all vehicles, allowing techs to easily access information with one tool. OBD, or OBDI, covers older cars, but there were no standards, so each manufacturer played by its own rules. Flash codes were common, which were codes retrieved by counting the times the MIL flashed. Sometimes you could connect a scanner to the car, but other times you had to use a complicated system of jumper wires and paperclips to be able to retrieve the code. Best course of action: take it to a tech, or research it yourself.

Note: I take no responsibility for the accuracy of this article, especially since the automotive industry is constantly evolving. If you're a tech and you find my info inaccurate, point me to a source and I'll make the appropriate correction.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Back From Europe

I'm finally home after being stranded in Luxembourg for two extra days. A pothole on the runway closed the airport down, and they had to scramble to find seats for 50 people on Fourth of July weekend. Fortunately, the airport people prevailed, and the last group of us got home last night.

I'll start blogging again soon. I'm sure you're all thrilled. :)