I once got into an argument with someone who thought that government-run institutions had been great, and that they only got terrible after private firms took over. That is just ... not what the reality has ever been.

ION, I feel like I'm going slightly stir-crazy now that the semester is over. I'm trying to get out and do stuff so that I'm not just staying inside by myself, but I also do have things I need to do at home. I got a ticket to a musical tomorrow night, though, and I've been trying to go for a walk everyday if it's not raining, so at least I'm not too much alone.

It was all terrible. I don’t know how to solve it, because I am on the side of we should just help people and then the help turns out to be not help or corruption. My mother’s job was actually determining whether a person qualified to have Medicare/caid pay for a nursing home and she was dogged in ferreting out money transfers to avoid paying themselves for care-she was incensed by people giving money to their children. But it also made her very wary of any sort of help.

I also sort of have a problem with WIC- its intentions are good, but people also need diapers. So then these little mini marts falsify things so people can get diapers and they ring up formula, but they charge the folks an exorbitant amount for the diapers.

I still sort of believe in a universal basic income, but that will get corrupt too.

We have an HSA card through TCG’s work that covers lots of non prescription stuff at the pharmacy. Something like that added to the WIC program might be helpful.

Timelies all!

Nothing new on the Mr. S front. We thought there was a placement for him on Thursday, but then more information was made available to CPS, and they needed to meet about it. Sigh...

In different news, Gary and I went to the Springsteen show on Wed. It was a great show, as usual. Plenty of political commentary.

My crowd issues make big rock shows challenging, but I’d totally consider trying for Bruce Springsteen. I’m glad you were able to go, Sheryl.

Springsteen has really stepped up. I'd love to see him live.

def one of the people I still wish I could see.

I still sort of believe in a universal basic income, but that will get corrupt too.

My non-expert opinion is that a truly universal entitlement is harder to corrupt than one with any amount of gatekeeping. If there's no barrier to entry then there's no system to game. (That's a vast oversimplification, but I stand by the principle of Just Give People Money and If You Don't Make The Rules Full of Cruel Nonsense Then Nobody Will Need To Lie To Feed Their Children.)

We are having a new roof put on today and boy, it's loud.

Yay new roof.

I have been havign a series of really bizarre and disturbing dreams. Last night was bizarre but not really disturbing. The main part is I got bit/clawed by a skunk-cat creature in someone's living room and knew it was rabid (it just wandered in i think...) and thus began a road trip sort of thing to try and get me to the ER. And I started to feel kind of drunk and rambly and when we were walking through the mall type thing to get to the ER I started rambling to someone about how my online community had been hurt by someone who claimed he was bit by a rabid thing and we called him Rabid...Rabid Rob...and he was horrible and lied and then faked his death . Someone came on and claimed we were bad for calling him Rabid and then he started TV tropes do you know it ?

The person was like "yeah I waa there next to him on the couch when all this happened. " I woke up right before I think Dream Me was going to attack her.

That sounds disturbing, askye, but I'm glad it didn't strike you that way.

I am finally root canalled and have a temporary crown, to come back in two weeks for the permanent crown so I don't know what they were talking about with the last cancellation because my crown hadn't come in. Maybe there was something else they needed for this that they didn't have and the receptionist or whoever just was used to saying crown. Anyway, still a little numb but otherwise pretty good, working from Peet's for the moment to have easy access to wifi and coffee (Peet's is across the parking lot from my dentist, very convenient)