What I Know

"I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything..." -- Richard Feynman

Brazenly stolen from OneGoodMove -- hey, it reflects what I know, too.

Credit Report and Score Monitoring

I've never been the most paranoid about identity theft - I leave that up to my wife. But a while back, due in part to her prompting after a couple letters about data security breaches from TJMaxx (where she shops a lot) and the VA (where she was listed as a mental health care provider from her days in social work), I signed us up for a credit monitoring service through CreditReport123.com, and have come to appreciate it.

First, I saw my credit report for the first time, and was able to fix a few things. Previously, I worried about a few balances, but apparently this had little or no effect on my credit score (the current term for what used to be known as a credit rating.)

I probably could have accomplished that with the free credit reports you're supposed to be able to get once a year, but the kicker/convincer came in with the credit monitoring included in the service. Like many people, I get way too many solicitations for credit cards, and have just gotten in the habit of trashing them. Apparently, one of things I threw away without opening was a notice from a card that was being discontinued because the business was being sold -- a card that I didn't often use, but occasionally did. Missed that news...until I got a notice from the credit monitoring service that an account had been closed. That got my attention.

Now I get monthly and quarterly messages that nothing's changed. Boring. But in this case, boring is good, and reassuring.

Parody -- Not Parity

I can't believe the punditry surrounding the Hillary Soprano video, claiming it will hurt her because people will make the link between her/politicians and Soprano sociopathy. I have more faith in the American public to appreciate the parody.

Good Advice in Wartime

From Andrew Sullivan

Rudy Makes His Choice - Bails on Iraq Study Group

From Newsday: Rudy missing in action for Iraq panel. Apparently fund raising and high-dollar speech-making was more important than serving his country. Could have been an opportunity for someone that has absolutely no experience with foreign affairs, but wants to be president.

Greed, ambition, and poor judgment all in one.

Hillary's Campaign Song Announcement

A human face, and a classic-to-be, based on a classic-that-was...

Gotta love the carrot sticks. (Bill's a better actor.)

Big letdown in the end - the song's by (North) American singer Celine Dion.

Mr. Deity

If you liked God, Inc., you'll love Mr. Deity. Interesting that both of these are trying for a TV series.

(Some) Terrorists (and others) are Stupid

Portrait of the Modern Terrorist as an Idiot - Nice to catch the JFK, Fort Dix, Sears Tower, and the UK "bottle bombers" in the planning stage, but would/could those plans have actually ever worked, either technically or with the bozos involved.

Then again, there's also the sippy-cup terrorist story, and update, too.

Voices of Diabetes

Diabetes is becoming a major health concern with our aging population. All of us who obsessed about fat in the 80's when cholesterol was getting the headlines, and thought that potatoes and bagels were OK without the sour cream and cream cheese might find we've got a new set of numbers to worry about.

Voices of Diabetes - a new patient story "blog" on living with diabetes, sponsored by Novo Nordisk augments their existing Changing Life With Diabetes site.

I really should get back in the habit of checking my blood sugar levels.