sundries

[rm]

Last night, Patty and I participated in a salon about technology and relationships at Science House. The conversation was wide-ranging, amusing, filled with very diverse perspectives and ranged from the usual "are you different online?" (me: you're different everywhere, why do we only care when it's about the damn Internet?) to the ethical issues of child-like sex robots. There was also a great deal of food and spectacular views. If, by odd chance you're coming over here from over there, hello!

Tonight? Homeness and Project Runway. Has it moved back to New York? Please tell me it's moved back to New York.

I just realized we're going to be in Chicago in 2.5 weeks.

Charges, not unexpected, filed in the murder of Steve Perry. Warning: article is gruesome for any reader and particularly unpleasant for those of you who knew the man online or off.

Because I am all about the news you can use: Michael Jackson's estate vs. Plants vs. Zombies.

The past was not in black & white: DC during WWII.

More of similar. Not just DC this time. Color photos of rural towns 1939 - 1943.

On that note, If the Blitz comes....

One more indication that our healthcare system is still fucked: Insured Americans are using fewer medical services.

Congress is rethinking the ban on Internet gambling. This is interesting, because I'm someone who enjoys casinos and also knows we need the revenue. However, I also suspect that Internet gambling is potentially addictive in ways different or additional to casino gambling, and this could be very messy if approved.

Tom Hardy of Inception has had sex with men. Personally, I'm discomforted by his remark about gay men and gender roles and entirely more interested in his thing about shoes than anything else. I love men's shoes. Not in a pervy way, damn you.

What is it with NYC and food halls lately? First there was the opening of the one at the Plaza, now there's Eataly.

On Saturday elionwyr will being doing a blogathon to benefit Live Strong.

Separate post about graduate_maria things later.

Hey, I beta'ed this fic by bethynyc. It's Where Youth and Laughter Go and is a Stargate/Torchwood crossover with a largely WWI setting. bethnyc had to deal with a lot of complexities regarding writing that time from the eyes of people not of our time and place, and that sort of thing is really hard to balance, but she did an awesome job, so you should go read it.

Comments

[idunn.livejournal.com]

I pay $200/month on my parent's healthcare plan (a fact which totally destroyed Canadian friends of mine - "you pay HOW MUCH?!") just so I have healthcare in case the worst happens. Otherwise I don't really go to the doctor and am overdo on my visit to the ob/gyn. I had to go to a specialist lately and laughed when she outlined how often she wanted me to see her and then expressed confusion that I didn't come in again; even with insurance, at $150/visit, I'll take my chances on my own.

To non-Americans reading about our healthcare crisis, it really is that bad. And my situation's incredibly tame compared to what other people are going through. I'm lucky.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

IKR. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but if it's costing more than gold per ounce - and that's if you *have* insurance! - it's a disincentive to invest in it. Then there's the non-monetary cost: taking time off work to see the medico(s), and getting ground down due to bureaucratic idiocies in the HMO.

[moizissimo.livejournal.com]

I was recently involved in a discussion and someone asked if we had Cobra, but didn't explain what it is. Now I have to laugh, because we don't have Cobra, but if your income is low, a certain level of health care is free, and it's cheap anyways. (For example, the specialist is free if you are referred by your GP for further investigation.)

I'm glad you're willing to get coverage, even at $200 a month. The Americans I work with (in BC) refuse to pay for even basic coverage at $60/month, and won't even think about going to a clinic or the hospital when something is wrong.

[newsbean.livejournal.com]

Please take minority populations into account. There's a fundamental distrust for doctors over the terrible things that have been done to many of us by the medical system. What to you is "refusal" is to many people a reasoned response to being treated like shit.

[idunn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this. I pay for coverage in case of emergencies, but otherwise I avoid doctors because of such bad encounters with them. I just want to make sure I'm covered in case limbs fall off or something.

[moizissimo.livejournal.com]

You get shitty doctors in Canada, too. It's just cheaper to shop around till you find someone that works with you, and isn't a dismissive jerk.

[idunn.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm pretty sure shitty doctors isn't an American phenomenenon, but like you said, it's too expensive to just shop around until you find someone who's knowledgeable as well as a good person.

[moizissimo.livejournal.com]

Oof. Yeah. Let me show you my bias of growing up in the Canadian system. I do think of my coworkers as privileged, as they are all higher degree holders who travel frequently, and have privilege over me in that respect. I shouldn't assume. :/

[idunn.livejournal.com]

WTF is wrong with your coworkers?! I'd be ecstatic if I had basic for only 60 bucks!

COBRA's a ripoff. I got that after losing my job in the crash of '08 for $500/month. Who needs rent?

[moizissimo.livejournal.com]

I think they don't quite get that the $60 means that, no really, doctors and specialists and hospitals are FREE. Walk in, get treated, walk out. Many other things are reduced cost. Birth control and gyno visits can make the savings significant for women...

[idunn.livejournal.com]

How is that possible? Flabbergasted Yank here.

[moizissimo.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY MY POINT! I don't understand it either, and I grew up with it. I just accept and move on.

(There are some additional costs, like detailed doctor's notes, physicals with write-ups for jobs, and in-office surgery (in hospital is always free... I know this because I'm allergic to anaesthetics and had my wisdom teeth out in hospital. YAY!).)

[idunn.livejournal.com]

But ... but ... this is like an amazing discovery involving string theory.