THIS PAGE WILL HAVE BITS OF ADVICE OR RANDOM THOUGHTS.
The first regards enlarging or reducing font sizes on monitor screens of the computer for PC users.
I'm sure most of you already know this but for those of you who don't: If the font on your monitor screen appears too small, you can easily enlarge it. This is for web pages such as this page or other things you may be doing on the computer.
If you have a "wheel" on either your mouse or your keyboard, you need only keep the "ctrl" key depressed and move the wheel up or down to increase or decrease the size of the font.
If you have no wheel you need only depress that "ctrl" key again and then tap the "+" sign and that will increase the size of the font on any web page. Or keep tapping the "+" sign to make it bigger and bigger. And depressing the "ctrl" key and the "-" sign will make the font smaller!
If it assists your enjoyment while using the computer, I'm glad to have helped.
5-25-08
I just saw a political cartoon in the newspaper picturing McCain dressed in an "Indie" outfit, with 2 supporters holding a newspaper suggesting how the "Aging" Indie is a movie hit. The cartoon suggests that McCain is trying to allay the thought that age makes a negative impact. It caused me to call a friend who is a few years younger (a doctor) who suggested that our generation (himself included) is denying that we are "old".
But I don't see that as exactly the case. I am at the beginning of the Baby-Boomer generation - 1948 - whereas my friend, a few years younger, is towards the middle. But I enjoyed immensely the two movies - "Rocky Balboa" and "Indiana Jones" (the latest). To me it didn't deny that we are getting old, but rather that DESPITE OUR AGE, we are able to perform as well (or almost as well) as when we were some 20 years younger. There was a great delight in that kindredship to those characters. Not denying our age, but suggesting that it doesn't make much of a difference - yet!
At least that's my 2 cents!
5-30-08
The Costs of Health Care
Of course, many factors contribute to the high cost of Health Care. But probably a big contributing factor is insurance. I’m not necessarily referring to insurance abuse or even the cost of the premiums, but just its availability.
Premiums have risen high enough that I finally had to drop what we had, Cigna. But prior to that time, my wife had some numbness in her legs. We went to one doctor recommended by Cigna who suggested that he felt she should have back surgery. Seeking a 2nd opinion, we went to a second surgeon (again recommended by Cigna) who couldn’t see us until after we were no longer covered by our Cigna insurance, though we had made the appointment not knowing that would be the case.
We were at the doctor’s office with X-rays and MRIs of her spine, at the scheduled time. Of course we waited some 45 minutes until the doctor came into the office. And he said he looked at the films just before he came in. They were directly outside the room we were in. Perhaps 5 minutes was spent suggesting that HE, too, felt that she should have an Operation. (And 2 other doctors suggested holding off until and if the pain should ever become unbearable.)
After I questioned him of the possible consequences of such an operation, we left. Likely total time of his presence – 10 minutes. Work performed – opinion.
Almost 2 months later I received a phone call from his Office asking who our present insurance carrier was. After informing her that we no longer had insurance, she informed me that we were now responsible for the cost of the visit as Cigna suggested we were no longer covered 3 weeks before the visit. Our insurance had been terminated. We now owed the Doctor $500 for that 5 or 10-minute office visit and his opinion. After some negotiating with his billing office it was reduced to a mere $300 – the same that Cigna would have paid him – for that 5 minute opinion at his office.
Certainly other factors contribute to the high cost of Health Care; but in my opinion, this, too, is a contributing factor. I’m bothered, perhaps, because I think of how long and hard so many people have to work to earn either that same $300 or $500. Or perhaps it’s really how oblivious we are to such billing – as long as someone ELSE (the insurance) is paying the bill! I know I would never have sought out a second opinion – at least from him – if I knew that just that opinion would be costing me $500!
