Kevan Loy

The very early stages of an aphorism on chance (I’ll update with more as I write):

How does a bird know a branch can stand its weight? Certainly not all branches can hold the weight of an eagle or an owl, or, for that matter, a crow or pidgin. One might think there is something calculated by the bird about how much weighs in comparison to the thickness of the branch, but these things would mean the bird is much more capable mentally then we give them credit for in modern science. The furthest one might be able to wander is that it is instinctual to some degree. It would seem, then, that the bird merely guesses, or takes a chance as to whether or not the branch will hold thus giving him a perch, or he will break the branch and tumble towards the ground.

Human interaction is much the same way as the bird and the branch. We learn from trial and error (chance) in all kinds of situations. For example, the relationships or interactions we have with other individuals are governed by a “physics” of sorts much the way the bird and the branch are governed; we call these “physics” social norms.

I’ve been staying with my high school duo partner and her family while I’ve been in Kansas City. It has been really interesting talking and chatting with her parents because they are pretty conservative – hell she’s pretty conservative at least in comparison to me. The difference between my other stays with conservative folk is that they are actually intelligent.

We’ve talked about insurance (in general) and healthcare. I think, if nothing else, I have a better understanding of how insurance companies work. The information isn’t so contrary to what I already knew, but her father is a manager at an insurance company so his opinion is more insightful, but possibly a little biased.

I think what’s important to realize, especially after the House passed their bill last night, is that this reform is something the majority of the population wants. This isn’t some fringe cause of the progressives or anything of the sort. Polls show us this, let alone the election of the first African-American president whose main platform was healthcare reform.

The question is: even if the people want it, is it the right thing to do? I think the answer to this question is yes. Our Declaration of Independence calls for “Life… and the Pursuit of Happiness” in what we can we have either of these things without a guarantee that we can be healthy or at least become healthy again? If nothing else this seems to be something of importance.

More on this later.

Things have been so up in the air lately it has been really hard to understand just what is going on with things.

It seems like things might be getting back to the way they are supposed to be in my mind – she said that things are really more of a break than anything else, which was comforting and maddening all at the same time. I wish things had never wound up in the position they are in, but it doesn’t seem like there is anything I can do to change them at the moment. She’s just going to need time. I wish there was more to say here, but for some reason this doesn’t feel like the place, even though that’s its intended purpose….

I actually kind of miss school. I was sooo sick of it this semester that I thought being out the remainder of the semester would be a blessing, but I’m starting to think not. I really miss learning things and being pushed to think outside my normal thought process.

The trip back to Chicago is daunting on so many levels; I still don’t know how it is going to go. A mixture of happiness and depression I imagine.

Braveheart is on – going to watch that now.

I’ve got the theme closer to how I want it, still having some issues with the code though. For the life of me I cannot figure out how to change the blog name either.

Need to finish and upload my design and then make a post.