Dystopian Dreamland
So I put together this playlist of all my favorite Porcupine Tree songs that would fit on a 80-minute CD. I realized afterward that, unintentionally, they all deal with tragedies of various sorts, from the personal to the planetary (more often the latter), though with a particularly British sense of detachment and even whimsy, and always with great music. I guess these guys just like writing songs about the end of the world! You can stream it for free with an iMeem account (they have agreements with the major labels) or download on iTunes. 1.

First Take On Obama's Health Care Speech
An audacious set of guidelines for health care reform. How dead in the water are they? It seems to me that it combines the benefits of nationalized health care with the inefficiencies of a deeply regulated hierarchy of public-private partnerships, while preserving a core flaw of our current system--the idea that health care can be a profit-making enterprise. If you're a health insurance company, and you can't turn anyone down, how do you grow your profits? Simple, you add as many customers as possible by buying up smaller companies, etc. The logical outcome is Wal*Care. Still, in the long run, it may be better than what we have now. There was a nice moment with the Republicans sitting th

First Take On Obama's Health Care Speech
An audacious set of guidelines for health care reform. How dead in the water are they? The stipulation that all companies must provide health care pretty much makes it D.O.A. It seems to me that it combines the benefits of nationalized health care with the inefficiencies of a deeply regulated hierarchy of public-private partnerships, while preserving a core flaw of our current system--the idea that health care can be a profit-making enterprise. If you're a health insurance company, and you can't turn anyone down, how do you grow your profits? Simple, you add as many customers as possible by buying up smaller companies, etc. The logical outcome is Wal*Care. Still, in the long run, it may