I’m still consistently posting on Twitter. Follow me at ray_harmon.

…I have been battling a sore throat since at least last Thursday. INSANE! Nobody around me is getting it–meanwhile I sound like I’ve been screaming at the top of my lungs for hours on end. Quick, wanna hear my Kathleen Turner impression? Because it won’t last!

There. I said it. I’m not comfortable with it. Not because I believe in some stupid slippery slope into socialism (we’ve been there for 70 years anyway). I just have a hard time believing it will be managed adequately, and since the predominant group of patrons will be the poor, I don’t like the idea of providing them with shoddy healthcare. I say beef up Medicare and Medicaid so that it covers the gaps and throw government dollars at private providers.

There are my two cents.

Moving! I now live in the District, in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. I love the new place, because of or in spite of the fact that I spent a TON of money furnishing it and buying all my kitchenware, bathroom stuff, etc. I’m thinking about having a very small housewarming dealio with some wine, cheese and friends. We’ll see when that might transpire.

School’s going as well as it can, given how much of a distraction work is providing. I am basically exhausted all the time right now, but I’m muscling through and hopefully after this semester ends, I will have some return to a sane lifestyle. At least I’m losing weight again…?

Other than all the upheaval and stressors, I’m actually in a fantastic state of mind. Things are pretty positive and I like where my head’s going lately. I am curious what’s around the corner, but I’m definitely ready to start making plans and doing new things. It’s been a life on partial hold in recent weeks as I make all these transitions.

A new high-tech book developed with Michael Jackson and intended to ultimately include photos from the “This Is It” concerts in London will be released soon. Apparently, it plays videos. And it’s a book!

Apparently Dr. Murray can’t get his story straight and the coroner’s report indicates a lethal dose of Propofol killed the King of Pop. It’s all in this affidavit.

It also says in there that the LAPD have already ruled this a homicide. I don’t think anyone would argue…

The folks at FactCheck.org are having a field day with all the Republican wingnuts running around worried about “death panels” and “the government taking away my Medicare.” They’re also busy debunking the pro-reform myths from the Dems.

Check out 7 myths below and read more at FactCheck.org:

False: Government Will Decide What Care I Get (a.k.a. they won’t give grandma a hip replacement)
False: The Bill Is Paid For
False: Private Insurance Will Be Illegal
False: The House Bill Requires Suicide Counseling
False: Families Will Save $2,500
False: Medicare Benefits Will Be Slashed
False: Illegal Immigrants Will Be Covered

I apologize for the near-silence from me this past month. When I wasn’t in mourning, I was stressing and dwelling, traveling with loved ones, and navigating towards a promotion. Some of the drama has subsided and I find recently I’m almost disconnected entirely from politics, and significantly separated from Hollywood. It’s been a Ray-oriented summer.

Something interesting needs to happen in LA or DC soon so I can write about it!

I own a Microsoft Zune. In fact, it’s a Zune30, which was the first model they put out. Every computer I have ever owned has been a PC. I was always reticent to use the Apple G4 in the recording studio at my university.

But I love my iPhone.

Granted, I wouldn’t dream of putting that little, half-eaten apple bumper sticker on my car. I find all of Apple’s attempts at personal computing to be limited in their customizability, much like many felt about AOL as an internet service provider. “It’s great that it’s user-friendly, but can’t I just work around some of this smiley crap?”

The iPhone is different.

So what if Apple blocked Google Voice so that you have to sign with AT&T to use your iPhone?

So what if it turns out the device may be as vulnerable as a deer on an L.A. freeway?

So what if their corporate trade secrets policy is so guilt-inducing that leaky developers are jumping from buildings?

The iPhone is a thing of beauty. With it, I find texting, emailing, scheduling, surfing, gaming, and photography all incredibly easy and convenient. If I need directions, I am 15 seconds away from knowing where to go. If I need a restaurant, click, shake, done.

Like I said earlier, when I want to use a computer, I want to be able to left-click or right-click and alter some background settings and really make my interface what I want it to be. But when it comes to micro-computing on a handheld device, I really want ease of use and simplicity.

For those qualities, I am more pleased with my iPhone purchase than any other single purchase in my entire life. Thought I’d share.