stoneycase

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I just got the single most outrageous hospital bill ever.

I had to go to the ER about 3 weeks ago due to feeling like crap for close to a week and being about 3h away from my University's health center. I was in the ER for about an hour, a doc talked to me, took blood and sent it to the lab and that was it. No drugs, no stay nothing.

Just got the bill for $1497. I'm fully insured but I'll call them up tomorrow anyways and tell them that's ridiculous and that there's no way I'll pay it.

Anyone have similar experiences?

$3,100 for a 3hour trip to the ER. 2hours in the room. 1 doctor for maybe 30min total. 1 nurse periodically. Flu-like symptoms, nausea, fever, etc. Diagnosed as a bad case of the flu or maybe food poisoning. Basic IV, then I'm on my way.

Another: Father had pneumonia. Extended hospital stay, very serious, surgery, bad bad ju-ju. We're talking close to 3 weeks here, with a lot of time in ICU.

$1million+ Happened over a year ago, parents still receiving bills. By their tally, the bills that came to the house came to almost 1.1m. Of course the battle(s) with the insurance company continue.

Imagine getting bills in the mail, repeatedly, for $120k, $70k, $200k, $10k.

No wonder health care expenses cause bankruptcy so easily. http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5530Y020090604 Though I'm not sure I believe the stats, from personal experience, health insurance is not a "get out of hospital free" card.

More than 75 percent of these bankrupt families had health insurance but still were overwhelmed by their medical debts

Our current health care system rocks (not). I'm fairly certain that a new system will also rock (not). Overall things are looking up.

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I would not consider myself a girlie girl, nor would I consider myself overly independent. I would consider myself to be somewhere in the middle of the two. However, I have found that sometimes I scare guys off with how independent I am.

With the exception of a job interview or big night out I don't take 2 hours to get ready. I know how to check/fill the fluids in my car, change a tire, drive a stick and I just got done mowing the lawn. I have my own tool box complete with power drill. I grew up around power tools and know how to use pretty much all of them.

However, there are still times when it's nice to have a guy around to help with big projects. And it's also nice to every so often have a guy pamper me for a day and feel all girlie.

So what do you look for as far as level of independence?

And too the women...would you consider your self more or less independent?

No, women like that do not scare me. Women that are fickle...that change their minds as if it were the breeze...that say one thing and do another...that can not make up their mind, or suddenly decide to act "out"...they scare me. I would imagine the same characteristics in a man would scare any woman.

Women that are strong and independent display self confidence. They, on average, know what they want. I don't need to tell her anything. I don't have to guess with her - it's about enjoying life together. I guess, in some sense x2 "strong, independence", is associated with less reliance on one party (or the other).

It's not that we don't need each other, but, instead we want each other. My god, that's corny.

Oh, and while I'm at it, she should be gorgeous and able to kick my ass, physically. In leather, or something equally enjoyable.

Please, God?

Amen.

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I also have to say that I think the reporter is a bit of an asshat for covering the story the way he has.

True, he's finally talked to a city official, but he continues to play up the Pastor's belief that the city is "out to get him."

100% agree. Asshat award to the reporter. But hey, he needs something to talk about...and somewhere to take that nifty news van

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so my weekly small group is a private party like any other. that just happens to read the bible when we're there.

My point is that singling out "religion" in the zoning is what needs to be looked at here.

why do zoning laws prohibit the free exercise of religion?

sounds to me like the problem is about the parking situation. it could have been a meeting on skydiving, really.

in my personal experiences, parking in your neighborhood can easily become a "sore spot" amongst neighbors. especially if that parking is limited.

then there is the "asshole factor". the visitor who called the cops in the first place, after (allegedly) a bible study member hit his car and took off. like it or not, when somebody complains to the cops/government (local/state/fed/etc), the gov tends to get involved.

i do thoroughly enjoy when "deeply religious" people turn any criticism against them into an attack on their religion though. makes for good tv, and snippets for the internet.

BTW, here's the county's response: http://www.10news.com/video/19596391/

"However, what our (code) officer was trying to do was establish what the use is, so we know what regulation to actually utilize....bible studies are in a grey area...we want to make sure they are...parking safely..."

#37 - There are over 4,2 million porn websites in the world.

I believe this number should be higher...MUCH higher...lol

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Dear Howard and Jerry,

The optimal strategy for prevention of injuries in a recreational activity is one that lowers the risk of injury while preserving recreational value. In fact, if it would be possible in a recreational activity to implement an effective strategy for prevention of injuries that increases recreational value, it would be desirable.

I try to summarize this thought in my conclusions as: More safe more fun.

So you've probably already read Bill Booth. IIRC, Bill has a "general"thought regarding increases in safety in skydiving, over time, and the relationship of safety increase to fatalities (accidents, w/e). That thought is something like, "regardless of how safe it is made, people will still push it and therefore get burned He's also, again IIRC, got something on the whole increases in safety create false-senses of security, again causing fatalities (accidents, w/e)" At any rate, Bill's posts here speak for themselves.

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As a citizen or local jumper, I also think I might become happier if the authorities paid some attention to what makes me happy.

Yup, definitely not American! Authorities making citizens happy?! I'm fairly certain that is not the purpose of authority!

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Which website is the best for skydiving weather...with wind etc?

Thanks for the help!

forecast.weather.gov

no question, imho. its noaa.

just supply your lat and long, or use the map.

for example, enjoy the hourly graphs (including wind, with gust speed) for skydive spaceland...in rosharon, tx.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w1=td&w2=wc&w3=sfcwind&w4=sky&w5=pop&w6=rh&w7=thunder&w8=rain&w9=snow&w10=fzg&w11=sleet&AheadHour=0&Submit=Submit&FcstType=graphical&textField1=29.37920&textField2=-95.45090&site=all&unit=0

That's right, and you can thank your wonderful legislators and auto manufacturer for all their hard work when you go fillup this weekend. They've obviously made excellent progress in this area and we should all be thankful for their efforts

Happy reading.

http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=195

TFA: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the average gas mileage for new vehicles sold in the United States has 23.1 miles per gallon (mpg) in 1980 to 24.7 in 2004. This represents a paltry increase of slightly less than 7% over the 25 year period.

IMHO, the only way to effect change is to increase pain. Increase pain at the consumer level and increase pain exponentially at the mfr level. Expecting a Clean Air Board, or CAFE legislation to save us is naieve. The proof is in the historical data.

haha, yeah...i thought it was funny how many of them were similar in that it was another pilot commenting on the exchange...sometimes, the right words just come to you, and you just can't help it...LOL.

perhaps the last one is the best though..."wasn't I married to you once?" hahahaha!! some big shiny silver one's on that guy...no doubt.

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Some people complain about African American history month each year, she said.

" 'Why isn't there a white male history month?' we'll hear," she said.

LOL, I always love these comments. Where is MY white history month?! dammit!! whitey's always getting left out...

Then I heard the reply..."Whitey already has his...it's every other month on the calendar."

OH...that's right.

Down with the white man!

You want to dictate what your child learns and thinks? Homeschool them. You want to dictate what they are exposed to (good luck)? Homeschool. Don't send them to public school. Unless that is, you've forgotten what the term "public" means. Just in case some of you need help, I invite you to take any form of public mass transportation on the way home from work. Report back how much everyone looks the same/acts the same/talks the same, etc.

Seriously if that was my mom, I'd have a hard time not telling her to STFU. STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT STUPID $HIT! It's a $2 calendar printed on recycled paper. It won't make your son gay (unless he already likes guys).

OK, so I stole this link from another popular quasi-news website. But it is totally hilarious:

http://freshvideo.blogspot.com/2006/10/funny-conversations.html

Here's my favorite:

Allegedly, a Pan Am 727 flight waiting for start clearance in Munich overheard the following: Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?" Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English." Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?" Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war."

Ha!!! Plenty of other good ones in the list... (the last one, oh my, when i read that, i nearly fell out of the chair...)

I seriously can not believe you all have missed the obvious:

SEX, DRUGS, and ROCK N' ROLL

You need look no further

HM: Video games and Violence on TV!

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i expect that small, ignorant minds would say something like that. if somebody would bother to do a litlle research before blurting out opinions like this, they would honor his memory.

yup, totally agree with you there...i was about to post something similar myself...

alot of people are always amazed that emotions still run deep in the North and the South, especiallyl as it concerns the histories of the generals, Grant, Jackson, etc etc. it's easy to understand, really, especially if you think about in the context of how the emtions and situation could be similar to age-old conflicts and sentiments in the ME.

i could tell you with certainty, that saying something similar about Stonewall is almost GUARANTEED of netting some energetic and possibly violent replies in the south...believe me (and not just the deep south, we're talking Virgnia...)

IMHO, what the leaders of the Confederacy did with their available resources at the time was amazing. That's why they still study the nitty gritty at the Mil Academies I suppose (not just the strategy/tactics of the North).

/pissing on someone's memory for no other reason than you don't agree with them makes you look less-than-intelligent
//that being said, Jerry Falwell still deserves a solid kick in the balls, IMO

Franklin
Madison
Jefferson

I'm a sucker for the oldies...and occassionally, I still pull open sections of the Federalist Papers for enjoyment reading...

IMO, in order to be great, you need a bit of luck. Why? Because you need to be put into a situation with seemingly insurmountable challenges (technically, politically, etc). Those 3 men were all faced with insurmountable challenges and they rose to the occassion to overcome obstacles and create effective solutions. Others have as well, sure, but nowhere in the "History of the West" will you find a more critical point in time where men were afforded the opportunity to think of more than just themselves, and build something for the future, a future I'm sure that is now FAR beyond any of their wildest dreams (or nightmares!!! lol)

imgburn (formerly dvd decrypter), imgtool, clonedvd...those are fairly easy to operate and will do what you want (i.e. insert, copy, and burn). the first 2 i mentioned are free. you could probably find the 3rd on p2p or something.

enjoy!

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That's what the libertarians prefer. Get rid of all environmental laws and use the courts for _everything_. I don't think that works too well, myself.

Suing companies like this is the wrong way to go about achieving reductions in CO2 emissions. A better way to do it is through the CARB (california air resources board) which sets fleet limits for pollution. That way companies can plan ahead and ensure that they can meet the new standards.

Respectfully disagree. CARB is no more effective than CAFE - which is a complete joke.

I'm young, so what do I know though, right? Well here's what I do know - in order to force change you must make someone *feel pain*.

If this is the AG's plan to do that, than more power to him. I, for one, do not believe that CARB or CAFE regs will do anything to change the current situation.

Companies won't "plan ahead" Bill, they'll do what they've done for years - counter with their own lawyers and tie it up in the courts. I think you're being overly optimistic when you estimate how "well" companies will fall in line with CARB and "plan ahead". I'd imagine more planning and resources going into attacking and defending rather than complying.

I'd have to agree with Rocket, this looks to me to be a "Plan B". And he's right, no one is better at squeezing blood from a stone than the Gov.

I say file suit, scare the automakers a little, cost them a fortune in legal fees. Send Detroit into a little faster tornado spin. IMHO, Detroit failed this country long ago and it's about time we started realizing that and swinging the door in the other direction.

YMMV, much like the MPG of your vehicle and the price at the local pump!

/CA resident, where I'm lucky to get $3/gall for 87
//trips to the DZ, yeah right. I literally budget trips to the damn grocery store now

there are moderates in everything. what we can hear is often a product of what we choose to hear.

have you seen or read anything about this: http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20060919.@01&irec=0

Nadhlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi called on Indonesian Muslims on Monday to accept Pope Benedict XVI's apology for offending Muslims, saying it was "an obligation" according to Islamic teachings.

"As long as it (the Pope's remarks) was made out of negligence, we are obliged to accept the apology," Hasyim said on the sidelines of a religious leaders conference at the NU office.

The conference, held by the Indonesian Conference for Religion and Peace (ICRP), was also addressed by Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI).

Hasyim said the regret was "enough" and further resentment from the Muslims would only justify the pope's statement. "If the rage continues, perhaps what the pope said is true," he said.

There are people on both sides. In my own little pessimistic world, I often think what we hear "mainstream" will never actually represent what reality is.

After all, publicizing peaceful muslims does nothing for our overall FUD sales, and certainly nothing positive in an election year.

now you've got me confused...

they're going to re-elect the billionaire they already wanted out?

what happened to those streets full of protesters? and i see from the reporting there is an election planned in november...

are you saying the people would actually vote him back in? seems like last time the opposition boycotted the election, then the election was overturned in the courts. doesn't seem to me like those are indicators pointing toward "re-election" for the PM

yup, it's plastered all over the tv right now...

...But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,214498,00.html
BANGKOK, Thailand — The Thai military launched a coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday night, circling his offices with tanks, seizing control of TV stations and declaring a provisional authority pledging loyalty to the king.

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He just doesn't know it yet!

Chuck's not good with the whole gift-giving thing which really works to my advantage because I always get what I want! So, I ordered a new 60G iPOD online Friday (my birthday isn't until November - small details) and got it in the mail today. Can't wait to order some cool accessories!

Anyone have any good music download tips?

IMHO, the best thing you can do with an iPOD is get rid of iTunes. I have a Video, well I had one, sold it and I have a shuffle. iTunes was horrible for both.

I found great success with this: http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/

If you dig around for reviews you'll see they are overwhelming positive. Here's their comparison chart: http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/ctable.php

I hate to be a 'fanboy' of some software, but I highly reccomend anapod if you're an ipod owner/user.

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Three Rings, LLC

along those lines...

Three (or 3) Rings Solutions - TRS/3RS

Everybody knows who to thank for that little wonder

The military loves abbrev/acronymn, whatever you do, make sure you name it so the abbrev or acronymn looks good. BIGGUN and NickDG are right, procurement folks are an odd breed, and its certainly much easier to NOT re-invent the wheel when dealing with them (i.e. give them what they already know and like).

I agree though, you lose some of the rep and branding associated with RWS by making a significant change to United Parachute Tech. Maybe a name that incorporates some of the old will help you keep that momentum and recognition. Course, in the contracting world, people change their business cards like their underwear, and its' your name that really counts...

Alternatively, can't you just file a DBA or something? Have your corp UPT but then do the DBA for the sport business so it stays RWS? I used to work for a Corp selling IT equipment to the DoD and US Fed Gov, we had a DBA name separate from the actual Corp name. The DBA name was constructed specifically for the procurement process, it was "gov" centric. It went on all RFP/RFQ and it was tied to our D&B # and Cage Code. The Corp name, OTOH, was the two owner's last names, Inc. I don't think our customers ever really saw the other name, the only time I saw it was on the paycheck or internal garbage.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

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>what ever happened to that idea? surrounding yourself with
>people smarter than you are, and then listening to them?

The modern version of that is to surround yourself with people who agree with you, then listen to them. If they disagree with you, fire them. Then you're always right.

LOL, i see, i see...seems the bush admin has found a wonderful little add-on to that...once you fire "them" its easy to label "them" as "against you/us". viola, the natural cycle of us vs them continues!

this is an interesting read on the President's reaction to Powell's letter and the media coverage: http://mediamatters.org/items/200609170002

the first question to Bush during the September 15 press conference came from Associated Press White House correspondent Terence Hunt, who asked: "If a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former secretary of state feels this way, don't you think that Americans and the rest of the world are beginning to wonder whether you're following a flawed strategy?"

Bush responded: "If there's any comparison between the compassion and decency of the American people and the terrorist tactics of extremists, it's flawed logic. I simply can't accept that."

...the part that really gets me though, is what Sammy would have followed up with, given the chance...he says:

DONALDSON: Well the follow-up is just that: "Sir, are you saying that Colin Powell -- and you almost said in so many words -- cares more about the terrorists and believes they have the high moral ground rather than the United States? Is that the way you read the pure words of his letter, sir? Could someone read them to you?

oh Sam, if only you'd been there and asked that question...where does the President go when the spin and the FUD selling runs dry...how is he going to convince the American people that Powell is a Terrorist-Lover then? maybe they'll come out with a commerical and question his service record...

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Evidently for the last administration, you just had to be willing to suck a dick... how times have changed, eh?

I'd say Monica got *shafted*. I mean seriously, what'd she get out of the deal? A dry cleaning bill for the dress and some piddly salary as an intern staffer. I can't remember, did she get some gifts? I think she wrote a book, let's ballpark that at $1M and say that she did.

So here we go, we got one chic suckin dick and getting a $1M bucks for it. We got dozens of prime's and sub's with people in labor categories without the associated skillsets getting 10's of or even 100's of Millions of dollars. The contractors are committing fraud at that point, hiring people with X skillset and billing them at $$ inflated rates as if they had Y skillset.

Which is worse?

I'm a cost guy, so IMHO, to avoid the current debacle, Bush should just pay some bitch and be done with this shit. Save us all the $ and headaches. Hell, I'll even pitch in for her dry cleaning bill.

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Ok, fine.

Treat them as prisoners of war. No "objectionable" questioning. Also, no trials. After all, they're prisoners, not arrestees.

When there's a peace treaty between the US and AQ, negotiate release of the POW's.

Problem solved.

Which version do you prefer, the version written by a group of Republican Senators with extensive military experience and which is backed by a former chairman of the JCS? Or the Chickenhawk version from the White House which is opposed by the most senior JAGs from each of the four services?

the chickenhawk version, obviously. i mean seriously, Bush has way more experience than the others, he MUST know what is RIGHT. as a man who's had personal experiences in the military i'm sure he understands how it works, right? he is, after all, El Presidente.

in the world i live and work in, we have what are sometimes known as SME's - subject matter experts. (guys like powell, and his peers in this example) i tend to listen to these folks, since they often know things i don't. it's funny too, because most of the time they're right! and i look sooo much smarter when i pay attn to the SME's and do what they say, really, its amazing.

what ever happened to that idea? surrounding yourself with people smarter than you are, and then listening to them? i must've not been paying attn when that idea died. [email]

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Powell would have my vote for President in a heartbeat.

Sorry, he knew about the Plame/Libby bs, and kept his mouth shut. Not exactly honorable in my book.

explain. as far as i can tell, Armitage called Powell...

Powell was called to testify to Fitzgerald's grand jury and was never charged.

Here you go: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5570006/site/newsweek/

There's no indication Powell is a subject of the probe; the department official said the secretary never talked to Novak about the Plame matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plame_affair

scroll down to Richard Armitage...look, i'm no fanboy, and there's plenty of reasons to get upset with Powell (remember that nifty little vial he held up at the UN?), but I think you're off the mark here.

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There are quite a few here on dz.com who back in 2003 pretty much predicted all that has come to pass, from the lies to the quagmire. YOU are NOT one of them

And then there are those on here who have actually been to Iraq and seen what's going on for themselves who have not allowed themselves to be spun into believing it's a quagmire.

You are not one of them.

I wonder why the Iraqi government thinks it necessary to do this, (since everything is so wonderful there):

www.forbes.com/business/businesstech/feeds/ap/2006/09/15/ap3020534.html

new and improved water system? could it be, *gasp*, we are actually spending some money toward re-construction?

i say make a moat around baghdad. one drawbridge, and a dragon guarding it. that way, when the terrorists come, we can have the dragon breathe fire on them.

surprisingly, as ridiculous as this sounds, it sounds similar to me, when i compare it against some of the public speeches from this administration regarding our "strategy" (or lack thereof)

Cheney said, "I think things have gotten so bad inside Iraq, from the standpoint of the Iraqi people, my belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators."

...

Asked if Americans are prepared for a "long, costly and bloody battle," Cheney replied: "Well, I don't think it's likely to unfold that way. . . . The read we get on the people of Iraq is there is no question but what they want to the get rid of Saddam Hussein, and they will welcome as liberators the United States when we come to do that."

what i want to know, is who the fuck stole our damn "welcome to iraq" fruit basket...

/i said something waaay back when in writing...and i'll say it again...
//30 yr insurgency