<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link><image><url>http://direct.ecency.com/logo512.png</url><title>RSS Feed</title><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link></image><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 16:03:32 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="http://direct.ecency.com/@digitalfirehose/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[All demand and no supply in American health care policy debate]]></title><description><![CDATA[As I worked on my forms for open enrollment, I took note of the differences in costs for each health care insurance plan. Yes, I have a day job. And there were only two plans offered by my employer, though]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/all-demand-and-no-supply-in-american-health-care-policy-debate</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/all-demand-and-no-supply-in-american-health-care-policy-debate</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 08 Nov 2018 04:22:18 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[It's hard to be United States as a nation of winners and losers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trounced. Defeated. Beat back. Captured control. A partisan air war. Winners and losers. That is a quick summary of the election headlines. Abuse, war and winners and losers. Punishment and reward. Divide]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/it-s-hard-to-be-united-states-as-a-nation-of-winners-and-losers</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/it-s-hard-to-be-united-states-as-a-nation-of-winners-and-losers</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2018 13:21:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[An emotional guide to the midterm elections]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have been paying close attention to the emotional vitriol of the election news and the social media. It's a huge sales job that deflects from a systemic problem with American politics. The problem is]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/an-emotional-guide-to-the-midterm-elections</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/an-emotional-guide-to-the-midterm-elections</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 06 Nov 2018 13:31:39 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Proportional representation and the end of political dominance]]></title><description><![CDATA[After watching the antics of both dominant political parties in America for the last 3 years, I've arrived at something that seems like an obvious conclusion: Dominance is mutually exclusive from]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/proportional-representation-and-the-end-of-political-dominance</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/proportional-representation-and-the-end-of-political-dominance</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 03 Nov 2018 12:49:15 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Waiting for sleep to find me]]></title><description><![CDATA[I can fall asleep nearly anywhere, if I must. I've let myself catch a wink in an airport, on the plane, in class, at my desk, and in a noisy room. I have found that there are a few simple rules for falling]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@digitalfirehose/waiting-for-sleep-to-find-me</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@digitalfirehose/waiting-for-sleep-to-find-me</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 02 Nov 2018 12:45:57 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scarier than Halloween: the loss of 60% of animal life on the planet]]></title><description><![CDATA[Like millions of other parents, I took my kids out Trick or Treating last night. I saw some great costumes, tricked out houses and mobs of kids going door to door in a neighborhood that I have become fond]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@digitalfirehose/scarier-than-halloween-the-loss-of-60-of-animal-life-on-the-planet</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@digitalfirehose/scarier-than-halloween-the-loss-of-60-of-animal-life-on-the-planet</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 01 Nov 2018 12:06:03 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A simple case for universal health care]]></title><description><![CDATA[Universal health care is inevitable. The General Welfare clause of the Constitution permits it, so it will only be a matter of time and political will. If universal health care were not permitted by the]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/humanity/@digitalfirehose/a-simple-case-for-universal-health-care</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/humanity/@digitalfirehose/a-simple-case-for-universal-health-care</guid><category><![CDATA[humanity]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 30 Oct 2018 12:58:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[There's more to the race between Beto O'Rourke and Ted Cruz in Texas]]></title><description><![CDATA[Democrat Beto O'Rourke is in a tight race with Senator Ted Cruz, for a seat in the United States Senate. Some polling shows that Beto is or has been within 4 points of Ted Cruz, and that represents a]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/there-s-more-to-the-race-between-beto-o-rourke-and-ted-cruz-in-texas</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/there-s-more-to-the-race-between-beto-o-rourke-and-ted-cruz-in-texas</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:29:51 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Discomfort Food]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is a long post due to my enthusiasm for what I've discovered. You might have already figured this stuff out by now. TL;DNR: Removing flour from your diet and replacing it with whole, fresh fruit and]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/food/@digitalfirehose/discomfort-food</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/food/@digitalfirehose/discomfort-food</guid><category><![CDATA[food]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 28 Oct 2018 12:53:57 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Retaliation is not a political argument in favor of your cause]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have been surveying the headlines of the latest mailbomber, a man who has been caught mailing bombs to critics of President Donald Trump. Once again, we are treated to a display of violence in response]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/retaliation-is-not-a-political-argument-in-favor-of-your-cause</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/retaliation-is-not-a-political-argument-in-favor-of-your-cause</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 27 Oct 2018 12:13:03 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[On the discomfort of looking outside for happiness]]></title><description><![CDATA[For the last year or so, I've been watching problems in my life solve themselves. I can't explain how it happens, but it happens. I've seen difficult people suddenly become easier to deal with. I've seen]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@digitalfirehose/on-the-discomfort-of-looking-outside-for-happiness</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@digitalfirehose/on-the-discomfort-of-looking-outside-for-happiness</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:14:06 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[What does a Charmin lovin' bear have to do with politics?]]></title><description><![CDATA[So last night, I was watching a speech by Bernie Sanders, you know, that disheveled Senator from Vermont. God, how I love him. Every time he speaks, I am reminded of big money in politics. I am reminded]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/what-does-a-charmin-lovin-bear-have-to-do-with-politics</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/what-does-a-charmin-lovin-bear-have-to-do-with-politics</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 23 Oct 2018 12:35:45 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[American aristocracy is diametrically opposed to accountability]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the past month, I read a few very interesting articles on what appears to be an aristocracy in America. First, there is "The 9.9 Percent Is the New American Aristocracy", a long, thorough]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/american-aristocracy-is-diametrically-opposed-to-accountability</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/american-aristocracy-is-diametrically-opposed-to-accountability</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:37:36 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[How pop culture perpetuates the myth of change at the top]]></title><description><![CDATA[I just finished watching Luke Cage on Netflix. There is some great writing and some not so great writing in it. There are moments where I had a hard time suspending disbelief in the plot and the characters,]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/how-pop-culture-perpetuates-the-myth-of-change-at-the-top</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/how-pop-culture-perpetuates-the-myth-of-change-at-the-top</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2018 12:29:45 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[How I learned to stop keeping score and let go]]></title><description><![CDATA[I don't keep score anymore. I've tried and it really doesn't work. I don't worry about getting back at people who have done me wrong. I keep my side of the street clean. I err on the side of peace to the]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@digitalfirehose/how-i-learned-to-stop-keeping-score-and-let-go</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@digitalfirehose/how-i-learned-to-stop-keeping-score-and-let-go</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2018 12:33:24 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The correlation between child abuse and corruption]]></title><description><![CDATA[Children are the greatest imitators on earth. Whatever I do, my kids will do. We're built to learn that way. Everything a child knows how to do, all of that was learned from someone else. Walking, talking,]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/anarchy/@digitalfirehose/the-correlation-between-child-abuse-and-corruption</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/anarchy/@digitalfirehose/the-correlation-between-child-abuse-and-corruption</guid><category><![CDATA[anarchy]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 14 Oct 2018 13:05:12 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A thought experiment: a sleight of hand to confirm Kavanaugh]]></title><description><![CDATA[As many of you may be painfully or happily aware as the case may be, Brett Kavanaugh has been confirmed and sworn in as an associate justice to the Supreme Court. I don't feel pain or happiness with those]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/a-thought-experiment-a-sleight-of-hand-to-confirm-kavanaugh</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/a-thought-experiment-a-sleight-of-hand-to-confirm-kavanaugh</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:10:06 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump's culture of punishment and reward]]></title><description><![CDATA[As I watch the men in the US Senate revel in the spoils of the victory they handed to Brett Kavanaugh, I have to wonder exactly what it is that they are celebrating. Did they celebrate victory over women?]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/trump-s-culture-of-punishment-and-reward</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/trump-s-culture-of-punishment-and-reward</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 09 Oct 2018 11:13:12 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Big money in politics is really an exchange of rights for privilege]]></title><description><![CDATA[The same men who claim to believe in God also believe that God loves them even if they have to lie, cheat and steal to nab a 5th seat on the Supreme Court. 92% of Congress is Christian. Most of Congress]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/big-money-in-politics-is-really-an-exchange-of-rights-for-privilege</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/big-money-in-politics-is-really-an-exchange-of-rights-for-privilege</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 08 Oct 2018 12:26:45 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[How we've all been played: Kavanaugh was just one part of Trump's negative campaign]]></title><description><![CDATA[With Brett Kavanaugh confirmed and sworn in as a new Supreme Court Justice, Bernie Sanders must be rolling his eyes right about now. He knows that Trump is the master of the negative campaign, and that]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/how-we-ve-all-been-played-kavanaugh-was-just-one-part-of-trump-s-negative-campaign</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@digitalfirehose/how-we-ve-all-been-played-kavanaugh-was-just-one-part-of-trump-s-negative-campaign</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[digitalfirehose]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 07 Oct 2018 13:27:54 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>