I don’t really have many complaints about it — especially after hearing Woz say that these aren’t computers for what one might call computer people (read: nerds) — they’re for everyday people.

There are really only a few things that really bother me: a lack of a download manager in Safari proper (I realize there are apps which can do this for me, but they use UIWebview).

Perhaps more importantly, however, is the keyboard. I really don’t mind using the on screen keyboard in terms of not having tactile feedback (I’m actually writing this post on the WordPress app). What bothers me is that it isn’t a Mac keyboard. I want option, control, and command keys. I know what Apple is telling me to do with the UI — interact with it, to touch my content. I feel the the mouse is often over used used in desktop computing; so is touching in iOS.

I’d love to be able to jump between words with a command or command+option combo. This is a multi-touch display after all so there’s no reason this couldn’t happen. Would it kill someone if we followed the standard placement of commonly used keys? I realize that the keys onscreen are sentence ending punctuation, but how often do people really use the exclamation point when they’re sober? Never.

Anyway, enough bitching.

Welcome to the future! (see what I did there?)

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.

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.

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.