A Take on Health Care Reform

I'm sure pretty much everyone has heard the news by now that congress passed the new healthcare  reform bill here in the United States. I'm not really sure how I feel about it yet since I don't know all the details, but I am interested to see what happens. I know there are a lot of varying opinions, and that many of them are uninformed ones.

Capital Building, Madison, Wisconsin 2010

First of all lets get this straight, it is not "FREE" health care like the systems set up in other countries where everyone is taxed a fair amount and everyone is entitled to receive the same quality of health care. It is still going to be private insurance, it's just that government is trying to take more control over it. From what I understand it will be beneficial to many, and in basic theory it sounds like a mostly good idea, but I still think there are going to be people that will lose out, especially after going over some of the details that have been released.

Should Rich Kids Be Ineligible for College Scholarships

Woke up this morning and among the headlines in my news feed I see the question 'Should rich kids be ineligible for college scholarship's?' Apparently the question was brought up from the news that Sean Combs', (aka P.Diddy, who is worth quite a bit of money) son Justin had been awarded a full scholarship to UCLA. Of course all this got my mind wandering on my own opinion.

A Take on "Tan Mom"

I'm sure everyone has heard about the New Jersey mom accused of bringing her five year old into a tanning booth. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt that she may have brought her kid to the salon, but not into the booth. I have no reason to believe that the child didn't get burnt playing outside, and that what the little girl said at school was misinterpreted due to her mother's appearance. She may not be vigilant on putting sunblock on her child, but as far as I know that isn't illegal, or I know plenty of parents that should have spent a few days in jail, including my own.

Image from  Sunscreen: New Guidelines this Summer  

Sun exposure releases both melatonin and serotonin into our systems. Melatonin helps regulate our sleep patterns, and we all know regular sleep helps us function better, and serotonin is a feel good hormone. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize,  both of those things feel good and anything that makes us feel good can have addictive consequences. It's also not that uncommon for a doctor to recommend someone with depression, especially if it gets worse in the winter where less sun exposure occurs, to regularity sit under artificial UV light. Also there's that whole vitamin D thing, but not relevant for this post. The real issue that everyone is either overlooking, or going about the wrong way, is the harm she is doing to herself.