New gatherings…

I used to have LOTS of time to spend with my friends. It was a defining component of my free time. Some might say too much but the phase in the river of life was fleeting. Then with family – other jobs and all the things that came with the life I now have it is indeed too rare that we get together.

But… I have a plan. I hope to encourage all who can make it to join me at Play On Con in Birmingham, AL on the weekend after the 4th of July next year (2010). I hope we can make it an annual homecoming if you will. Its relatively central to all of the south and sits on the intersection of I-65 (North-South) and I-20 (East-West) and Southwestern Air flies both in and out of the airport. Easy, no?

I know it is an excellent fun and family friendly con because I took mine earlier this year over Memorial day. That is another story entirely, but I promise to share that another time.

In the mean time, I know I will need a place to gather my thoughts, sanity (what little there is left) and enjoy time with friends new and old here in Atlanta. Earlier this afternoon I took my older two teenagers to visit a fine pub in the area. It is called Battle N Brew in Marietta. I have to link it to the POC 2009 because that is where we discovered that it existed. Funny that we had to go to B’ham to discover a fun place around the corner. It is a wonderful combination of a pub (food and brew) and a lan hub gaming center. I am told it is the only one in Atlanta, and I hope so, because I would love for them to get all the credit they deserve. I am clearly clueless or we would have visited earlier because they have been there for about 4 years and we could have been partaking of a lot more fun! I am glad we did and I hope you will too some time.

We just discovered that they are having Geek Trivia on Wednesday nights and Rock Band play (read Karaoke on steroids) on Friday nights.

We are making plans to hit both and I will be sure to share the fun here not too long after. We will be putting together a crack trivia team and see if we can defeat the veterans.

Find your own gathering and use the web and facebook to make time to gather and reconnect with your friends. Better yet! Make time to make new ones and introduce them all.

Let me close with a quote, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. — Ferris Bueller” Apt with John Hughes’ passing. Don’t miss it.

Why healthcare?

I am sure to raise to ire of readers on this one, but I have to ask.  Why healthcare?  Why now?  Is this the same urgency that forced us into a gazillion dollar bail out of fat cats in banking?

I know I don’t feel bailed out.  Do you?  Is the general economy rebounding around us in ways that will generally affect me but is just getting to everyone else first?

Its just my opinion and it is without credential as an economist or a health care provider, but what is the burning issue here?

Healthcare is a benefit provided in general by employers who are looking out for their own rational self interest; ie. the wellness of employers to work.

Businesses that don’t do this suffer a different set of problems and as a result have more churn in their manp0wer.  Businesses that do provide it have a scale and longevity that improve the long term success of their business.

People without healthcare don’t want healthcare alone.  They want jobs that are stable enough to provide healthcare.

The current approach is to provide healthcare without treating the root cause.

In short it is like the proverbial man who when taught to fish rather than given a fish has food for a lifetime.  When given a fish he had to depend on other fisherman – when taught to fish he becare a peer – a fisherman himself, able to contribute to the community of fishermen and to in turn teach others if the opportunity and inclination presented themselves.

On the other side, the government proposes to become the entire community of fishermen and to only provide fish and make becoming a fisherman more expensive.

The result is that fewer and fewer fishermen exist and those that do cannot afford to teach anyone to fish.

If you aren’t hungry and wanting to be a fisherman you will be eventually and your government will claim good intentions of feeding you as to why you cannot do it for yourself.

Returning to blogging

Hi noble (and few, I am afraid) readers!

I had been seeking a method to integrate Facebook, Twitter and this blog to capture the work we are doing as well as the random touristy stuff I encounter on the web. I am almost there and will be posting more here as we make progress.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement.