Viewing the USA from the outside (American Citizen)

I'm a US citizen. I have not lived in the USA for the past 5 years. I have been working and living in Taiwan.

I must admit viewing the USA from the outside of the USA is a bit scarry. All you hear and see are bad images. At times I even think I may be afraid to go back to the USA. The news we receive is fromCNN, BBC TV channels, web news and local English newspapers PLUS movies and music. You very rarely see good positive new. Most of the times you just hear about guns, killings, sexual preditors, war and a govenment that seems to be in grid lock. You see a lot of negative things about the USA. This is not coming from the local news. It is coming from America news channels and Americans. This is what is scarry.

The USA needs to put on a new face and work a new marketing scheme. The current direction frightens people and from what I remember America was a good place to be. (I just hope I don't get sued over saying this - seems like people now sue over hurt feelings).

USA and Taiwan Health Care

Just read a few articles on USA health care and things are sounding pretty bleak. The price of health care in the USA is crazy high and due to it a very large percent of people have no health care. This is horrible.

Here in Taiwan health care is pretty simple, but the problem is most Americans probably would not like it. From my view point Americans have become burdened by the service they receive.

In quick and dirty terms:
1) Everyone has a national health card. You can go see a doctor anytime.
2) Prices to see a doctor can cost you US$3 to $10 a visit. People see the price high here, but in the USA people would love to see these numbers. Price depends on where you go. The bigger the hospital the more expensive. The idea is this: go to the local doctors for minor problems and go to the bigger hospitals that have specialized doctors for "real" problems.
3) No appointment is really necessary. However, you can make them. This is the problem I think most Americans would have with this system. Let me explain....

• You line up (or take a number) at a check-in counter. You tell the cashier the type of doctor or the problem you are having. They give you a number and paperwork and tell you what waiting room to go to. Now this is done very quickly (no longer than 1 minute with check-in once you talk to the person).
• You go to the waiting room and wait for your number to be displayed or called. You normally see different doctors each time. If you want the same doctor you will need to talk the doctor and find out his schedule and try to work out an appointment. However, this can be difficult at times.
• Once your number is called you go into the doctor’s room. In the room you have a Nurse/secretary who takes your paperwork and National ID card to key you in the system.
• While this is going on just a few feet away (like 1 to 2 feet away) the doctor is talking or examining the person ahead of you. Yes, you can hear and see everything. Once the person is done it is your turn to take the seat by the doctor and the next person is called in. --- I believe people in the USA would be upset by the lack of privacy.
• Once done with the doctor he will give you your paperwork back that may include getting medication.
• Take the paperwork and ID to the cashier counter and pay for the visit and medicine. Let me tell you the medicine is CHEAP. A few US dollars and you have a pharmacy in your hands.
• Go to the pharmacy and wait for your number to be called and off you go. -- Go home---
• The thing is this procedure is for everyone. Does not matter who you are. Now don't get me wrong there are private doctors as well for people that want to pay more, but that percentage of people is very low. I'd venture a guess of only 2-5% of the population.

So there you go. A good alternative to the USA high costs. But I think the citizens of the US would not like the easiness and coldness of this type of system. It is not warm and fuzzy. It is more -you are sick -here is your problem- and here is your medicine (factory turn out style).

ROC Taiwan - Republic of China

Taiwan has a short history with China from all the readings I have ever seen. Taiwan has always been seperate and China wanted nothing to do with it (short histroy).

Taiwan has grown and now China wants a piece plus militarily it gives them more land. I just have a hard time understanding the USA's policy towards Taiwan. The USA runs around saying they want democracy to thrive and in Taiwan democracy sure is lively. But the USA sorta looks the other way and says they want reunification to happen. Well, from history when did China actually ever own Taiwan? I think the original inhabitants/Dutch/French and others have more claim. But I guess that is beside the point.

Maybe the USA believes China will be democratic one day and the Taiwan and China issue will dissipate. Or maybe they think that Taiwan's economy will fail and will look to China to bail them out. Or does the USA think the Hong Kong example of "one country, two systems" actually works?

I know this is a hot topic and that China brainwashes their students that Taiwan is their property and it should be theirs at any cost. This belief runs deep. Chinese students take this to heart.

Taiwan is Taiwan and China is China. They are two distinct places with distinct people and cultures. Taiwan has a lot to lose if they fall under the China fold. How it plays out I may never know.


A good editorial: The Right People Make All The Difference

FLAC, OGG, MP3vbr

I have tested and listened to the same song recorded in the three flavors: FLAC, OGG, and MP3vbr.

I will attest that FLAC is the best. There is no doubt about it. It is very clean and the level of sound is the best. I listened to a live recording from the Trashcan Sinatras recorded in 2005.

I think the MP3vbr was next best and OGG in last place, but just about the same as MP3vbr.

~ Used WinAmp to listen.
~ I used Logitech USB 250 headphones
All were at 44KHZ
FLAC: 800 KPBS average file size: 29,068KB
MP3vbr:160 KPBS average file size: 5,951KB
OGG: 122 KPBS average file size: 4,101KB

So the FLAC is just short of 5x larger than the MP3vbr file. It is crazy big, but final outcome is fantastic. Not sure FLAC is worth it unless it is a CD that just is not outputting well using MP3vbr. Maybe something with a lot of highs and lows and the encoder is just going nuts from the VBR. But if the sound is constant the MP3vbr seems to be the ticket. Now OGG at a higher KPBS average would create a little larger file, and may out perform the MP3vbr.

What I should do is play the same files on my home Onkyo stereo and see the difference. I am betting the FLAC will really stand out over the other formats in that setting.

Well there you go.

WinAmp 5.2 vs. MusicMatch 10 vs. Media Monkey 2.5x vs. WMP9

You can read all kinds of stuff on the web about which music player to use on your PC. I have read them and should consolidate the findings, but heck instead I will rant on my view instead. I also like to collect music and have many CDs, Albums, 7" and tapes (actually way to many). So my purpose for a MP3 player is to organize and tag music as well as play. I do not use any portable player so I don't pay attention to the download music to players section.

First off: Very strange that one player can not handle what most people would like to do with music. However, I understand each user is unique and each wants something particular. Plus each company is after making money and have their own agenda (which equal what they want to spend time updating).

Windows Media Player 9: (don't care which version) just plain out horrible. I have yet actually figured out an easy way to operate it. It is fancy, but troublesome. I use it for viewing video only (when it can find the right codec to play). It just tries to hard to think for you.

MusicMatch 10: Been using this program for years (since ver. 2) and I like the program. I believe it does everything a person needs. I like the tagging features and the ripping fetures. It is easy to view needed info. I will continue to use MusicMatch10 for ripping CDs. However, it has become stagnent in just about every other function and feature. This is why I started looking around for other alternatives. This is when I first turned to WinAmp and Music Monkey. I did look at OGG and FLAC but felt it did not fill my need. Still think MP3vbr is the best best for me (read my posting on this). I have written to MusicMatch 3 times requesting when a new update would be released, but still no word.

WinAmp 5.2: At first this program is overwhelming after using MusicMatch. It has so many features and functions that you can get lost quickly. I read the online quick guide twice to get a good understanding of its operating ideas. Played with it for 10 minutes and I was off and running. I enjoy this program. It handles all the missing components MuiscMatch is lacking. Plus you can download all kinds of add-ons. Playing with the add-ons is a whole 'nother topic to talk about. Now this program is just great for playing back music.

Media Monkey 2.5.2xx: Well I went to Media Monkey because I was looking for a better way to organize my music. Media Monkey combined MusicMatch tagging was the right combination for me. I like the file folder and options they give you in the file area. It makes finding bad MusicMatch tags easy. Plus I found it lets me clean up items that seemed not to be tagged or tagged incorrectly.

So for me I know use 3 programs to accomplish tagging and listening to MP3 or other files on my PC.
1) MusicMatch for ripping, file naming and initial tagging
2) WinAmp for listening to music (I just need a second sound card now and I can DJ)
3) Media Monkey for cleaning and fixing tags