Listening to Picturing a Meltdown, an interview with two of the authors of a comic-style book explaining what led to our economic crisis, I realized that in addition to marriage as the foundation of society, there is another myth that claims to be oh, so important to our freedom: Home ownership. It has a lot of similarities and it is tied very strongly to marriage and the nuclear family. Just like marriage, home ownership is seen as a status symbol: I own a home, therefore I am an adult. It is the next step in our becoming adults, right after … Continue reading »
Aug 162010
May 192010
I’ve been thinking a lot about ethics lately. No, not the book variety. No, I am not writing a paper on ethics. It’s ethics in real life. You know, something like: Is getting $450 per week worth a little lie or two? And you know what I realized: The temptation is damn, well, tempting! If I say x instead of y – I will get some money! It is as if the system rewards lying. And the only thing stopping me would be ethical qualms
May 072010
The absolutely scariest thing of taking the plunge is losing health insurance through work. Although that coverage wasn’t terrific – I am still paying for a minor accident – at least it felt like I didn’t have to worry too much. There was no ominous “life time maximum,” for example. Well, I expected the process of finding market coverage would illuminate all that is wrong with the health insurance system in the US. Still reeling from filling out the application – where you almost on threat of death have to swear all information you entered is correct – I thought … Continue reading »
Jul 072009
As if I had planned it that way, I did my 7th uphill walk on the 7th day of the 7th month…. We’ve raised almost $600 (we’re – appropriately – $7 short)! We got $400 more to go to reach my goal of raising $1,000 to support the work of the Alternatives to Marriage Project. If you haven’t done so already, you can donate online or give me a check or cash. If you’ve done so already thank you! I learned today that I don’t find all Against the Grain podcasts interesting. I started out with one that sounded interesting … Continue reading »
Freedom: the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Independence: free from outside control; not depending on anothers’ authority. Not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence. (Source: Oxford American Dictionary) On this day designated to celebrate the declaration of independence of the United States from Britain, I’ve been thinking about what independence and freedom mean both on a personal and a political level. The word “freedom” has been so misused – from the freedom to drive as fast as we want to via freedom fighters to the freedom to marry (which … Continue reading »
Six weeks down and two weeks to go with $442 more to raise to meet my goal. Thank you to everybody for your support. Both monetary and verbal support are greatly appreciated. And if you’ve been meaning to help me reach my financial goal, now is a good time to do so . I can see why this combination of physical activity and fundraising is used a lot: It is very motivating to me! Not sure if I wouldn’t have succumb to the excuses today – I am too tired, the hills are too steep… But 1 hour and 35 … Continue reading »
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