I'm trying to make it through the Joe Rogan podcast with Crazy Bernie

[Bergeron]

Bernie might make for a interesting college prof, but presidential?! Lolololol

I want to raise awareness of a couple of issues related to pollution and industrial manufacturing, particularly as it relates to oil & gas (upstream, midstream, and downstream) and chemical manufacturing.

I've participated in that industry, working in different areas. I've been offshore, and I've been in every possible chemical and power plant that I could in Louisiana. First off, climate change associated with carbon emissions is recognized as something that exists by the industry, particularly by the Shell Group Chief Scientist. The best ways to mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions, as I was taught by that industry, would be to put a price on carbon emissions and to minimize coal consumption while maximizing natural gas consumption. I'm not even trying to interpret or judge any of that, just reporting on exactly what I was instructed in as a member of that industry.

The most important thing to Oil & Gas (O&G) and to chemical manufacturing is License To Operate (LTO), and LTO is a function of reputation. Every one of the big players has a super-robust Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) organization and goals, as well as Social Performance (SP) organization and goals. Shell for example, had (still has) "Goal Zero" of no harm to people or environment. It's not perfect, and no organization will be, tbut he effort and interest in minimizing emissions and pollution is present and genuine. Your Super-Majors and other big players have a general standard of having stricter policies and procedures than those implemented by the governments where they operate. That's not always been the case, at all, but I think it's important to have generally accurate idea of what modern industry is really like.

I take exeception to the idea that it's profitable to pollute (it's not) and that O&G and chemical manufacturers, are waiting for or eager for a relaxation in governmental regulation so that they can pollute.

As a random type of example, there was an oil field in Africa in the middle of a national forest. The wildlife inside the oil field area was more populous, healthy, and diverse than inside the national forest.

[baddean]

And may need them if he's elected.


(I kid, I kid. Seriously...I kid.)

Umm.... all kidding aside, the assault flint lock has been used before for similar reasons.

[ubervic]

What? A political candidate espouses grandiose ideas and/or outright falsehoods via hyperbole in order to gain media attention and rally those who actually buy it?
I can't believe this is happening. No one's ever done that before!

[ralph]

I tried to watch and made it almost 10 minutes.

He's addressing topics that are legitimate. Mostly the cost of health care so far in the first ten minutes. The problem is he's making good sound bites, but not providing a solution. "Insulin in Canada costs 10% of what it does in the States, and it's all the greedy corporations' fault!" (I paraphrased that.) Yeah, if you take that at face value it's easy to get fired up about. And his plan is too pee-pee smack those companies into submission. Well, both the issues and solutions are muh more complex than that, but "let's get them greedy sumbitches" sells.

Class warfare, probably the oldest tactic in the commie playbook.

[blues]

Umm.... all kidding aside, the assault flint lock has been used before for similar reasons.

I don't need any more trouble with the NSA than what I had when I was still working...

[Rex G]

What he fails to mention is that, according to one of my Canadian friends, everyone likes the Canadian health care system except the Canadians. Try getting a doctor appointment in a timely manner.




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That sounds like my health care plan, except I am in Texas. I just gave up going to doctors, a number of years ago, when, after waiting months, and then eating chicken breast and white rice, for a week, I learned the day before the appointment, that my appointment had been canceled. Unless I need stitches, or something to be x-rayed, why bother? (That was not the only reason, but it was the straw that broke this camel’s back.)

I am no socialist, but socialized medicine cannot be worse than what I have endured for a couple of decades.

[blues]

That sounds like my health care plan, except I am in Texas. I just gave up going to doctors, a number of years ago, when, after waiting months, and then eating chicken breast and white rice, for a week, I learned the day before the appointment, that my appointment had been canceled. Unless I need stitches, or something to be x-rayed, why bother? (That was not the only reason, but it was the straw that broke this camel’s back.)

My brother from another mother. Other than stitches I haven't seen a doctor since you know who was a corporal.

[Rex G]

My brother from another mother. Other than stitches I haven't seen a doctor since you know who was a corporal.

The sad thing is that the appointment was with Kelsey-Seybold, with numerous campuses, and other doctors with the same specialty, so, it should have been possible to work me in, somewhere, quickly, one would think. I then learned that my sergeant’s husband had endured a similar runaround, multiple times, for the same procedure. My first step was to drop Kelsey-Seybold, at the next open enrollment, and switch to what should have been a better network, as it is associated with a prestigious hospital, Memorial Hermann, but our PCPs keep getting changed, with no input from us, which is one of the disappointments we had with Kelsey Seybold.

[blues]

The sad thing is that the appointment was with Kelsey-Seybold, with numerous campuses, and other doctors with the same specialty, so, it should have been possible to work me in, somewhere, quickly, one would think. I then learned that my sergeant’s husband had endured a similar runaround, multiple times, for the same procedure. My first step was to drop Kelsey-Seybold, at the next open enrollment, and switch to what should have been a better network, as it is associated with a prestigious hospital, Memorial Hermann, but my PCP keeps getting changed, with no input from me.

I've no excuses. I just don't go. I let the old bod take care of itself. (Or not.) I don't feel like taking drugs to compensate for other drugs to compensate for other drugs. So I just don't take any (and haven't needed to...I think).

Stitches and dental cleanings are pretty much what I do anymore.

[Casual Friday]

I've only been able to catch the first few minutes, but I had to laugh at his praise of the Canadian healthcare system. I can't say I'm surprised that his answer to everything is more legislation and bigger government involvement in our daily lives.

Bellingham WA is 20 something miles from the border. If you go to a doctor or hospital any day of the week, the parking lot is packed with Canadian license plates. My wife's boss and his family are from Canada. His parents still live up there and they come to the US for everything medical related because you can't get an appointment in a timely fashion unless you're literally on your death bed.