More Cheese

Today's lunch from Ideal Cheese:

- Shropshire Blue - a creamy, yellow cow's milk blue. Very similar to Stilton, but almost seems to have a cheddar flavor, but that could just be the color of the cheese playing tricks with my mind.

- Zamarano - an aged sheep cheese from Spain. Reminds me of Ballerina from the Puget Sound area. A little nutty. Very nice.

- Societe Roquefort - the famous blue from France. A creamy, slightly runny sheep cheese. I like it, but not as much as I like St. Agur.

- Farmer Joe's Mozarella - a local mozarella. Very nice, especially with prosciutto.

- Borata Mozarella - my, oh, my. I can eat this cheese all day. Cheese stuffed with cream and shredded cheese?? Ridiculously good.

Here's hoping I can get the leftovers through security at the airport.

**UPDATE: They made it through.**

"You Do Not Have Health Insurance"

James Kwak tell us something we already know, but choose not to think about (if you're employed).

Not Hunkering Down

Umair Haque asks us to think constructively about health care.

For those not into hundred page McKinsey reports, this is as good a summary as you're going to see on the current state, hypotheses on how we got here, and questions we need answered.

The Best?

The Harvard Business Review asks a tough question and presents findings that question an old assumption. Is the USA #1?

"Sheriff Joe"

The New Yorker profiles Sheriff Joe Arpaio (registration required for the full article).

Please, somebody in the Federal government. End the Section 287(g) program.

Ideal Cheese

I was just introduced to Ideal Cheese, a cheese store in Manhattan. Instead of buying lunch and dinner, I bought 1.5 lbs of cheese, a spicy chorizo, and Serrano (basically Spanish prosciutto). Mmmmmmm. The

Muacia Curado - an aged goat cheese that is already completely eaten

St. Agur - a creamy blue (the best blue I've ever had by the way)

5 Year Old Gouda - the crystallized amino acids make these cheese a must have at any cheese party

were all amazing. Have I mentioned that I love cheese?

Health Care

In my desire to remain topical:

- Megan McArdle, at The Atlantic, explains why she is opposes National Health Care

- Dr. Bala Ambati outlines an alternative plan to the current public option that is on the table

More to come. I don't know what the best option is, but the current situation is unacceptable. If you haven't already, read McKinsey's report on U.S. health care (the full report, not the synthesis). You'll be more knowledgeable than almost anyone you come in contact with on the topic.

"Young and Stupid"

Beyond the Fringe

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Born Identity
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

Change of Heart

As I continue to try and walk the path that my Father would have me walk and I feel the sanctifying effects of Christ's grace on my life, I draw closer to understanding how I could turn the other cheek. James Olsen's eloquent post on "The Question of Pacifism" struck a chord with me, as did the discussion it engendered.

Amygdala

HBR tells us to take a breath. To amygdala or to not amygdala. That is the question.

The Afghan War

Have I mentioned that Stratfor is one of my favorite sources of geo-political information? If not, let me state it again. Stratfor's analysis is outstanding.

Its latest piece on the calculus in the Afghan War and how the insurgent and counterinsurgent military, intelligence, and political interests complement and collide with one another is very good.

"Sheeple"

Via XKCD.

"Never Let Me Go"

This book took me approximately 4.5 hours start to finish. However, the science and morality tale that this book spun have stayed with me for weeks. I'm not going to be a spoiler, you can do that on your own, but I will say that the slow dawning horror of what is really going on beneath the cheerful prose caused me to shut the pages a few times and remind myself that it was only a novel.

"We Bring Fear"

A great piece in Mother Jones about the drug violence in Mexico.

More Than Meets The Eye

Zane loves Transformers, but hates it when I sing the song.

"Stop it DAD!", he says. And of course being the childish man-child that I am, I continue, "...robots in disguise." This only makes him more mad, which makes me chuckle a little bit. Then his face turns red and Liz gives me a look and I stop.

As you can tell, Zane and I love Transformers. He, because of the cheap plastic toys, and me, because of the mental torture I'm able to inflict. What?? CPS has already been notified I'm sure.

Anyhow, we went to see the movie on opening weekend. Here's the best review I've seen. CAUTION! Contains profanity.

Quitting

From Harvard Business School, "Don't Quit the Way Sarah Palin Did". I would have left this story alone, but I was more than a little surprised to see HBS use her as an example of how not to do something. After the past 10 months, maybe I shouldn't have been.

Speaking of Idiocracy

Idiocracy

Nexus

The BE Press takes a look at the effect of colder weather on exercise rates. I know. Who would have thought that rates would decrease?