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The Daily Dose/May 1, 2011
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Notes from around the Human Experience...
HEALTH INSURANCE CRISIS? WHAT HEALTH INSURANCE CRISIS? Recently we had occasion to test out The Woman's health insurance coverage, specifically the part pertaining to surgery.
Actually, surgeries, because she had both knees worked on. One knee has bothered The Woman for years, and the other she injured recently while chasing a dog down the side of a mountain, don't ask.
Medical Watch: Both surgeries went splendidly, and The Woman is recuperating comfortably at home and a full recovery is expected, and even demanded, because she is already starting to make noises about being tired about being cooped up all the time.
Dry, Technical Matter: Her coverage worked pretty well, too. We had to pay some fees and whatnot, but that was the plan we signed up for. And it wasn't some chop shop stuff, either. Everything was first-class and the surgery, in particular, was done by a world-class surgeon.
FunFact: The doctor even initialed his work, putting his 'RY' on both knees. Initially we thought he tattooed them on because they wouldn't wash off, causing us to wonder if that was covered, but they starting fading after a few days, which got us wondering how much that high quality marker cost the insurance company.
Fabulous: This experience got us thinking about the current US health insurance debate. If these thoughts sound familiar, it's because we've discussed this here before.
Dry, Technical Redux: Michael Moore, in his really good movie Sicko, pointed out that the US health insurance system currently insures a quarter of a billion people, and serves most, but certainly not all, of them pretty well.
So why does the government need to go farting around with those who currently have insurance? One, as noted, the system works for a lot of people. Two, the government shouldn't really go interfering with private business, nor should it mandate every one of its citizens purchase health insurance, which is what really bothers us, because - and stop us if you've heard this before - the purpose of government is to provide for the liberty of its citizens, not mandate they buy stuff from companies.
Shameless Plug: If the government is going to mandate we buy stuff, how a bill making everyone in the country buy my latest novel, Swords In The Narthex? It's funny, thoughtful and provocative (hubba-hubba) and available right now on Kindle, Nook, or as an ebook!
Get Your Official Writer's Shack Policy Right Here: Instead of fretting about those with insurance, the government, if they are hell bent to do something, should probably focus on those for whom the system doesn't work, either because they can't get access to it or because it doesn't deliver the required care. In other words, worry about the uninsured, or those who are told they can't get the care they want or need. Purchase them insurance, or better yet, provide the care directly, because we suspect that once the upfront costs are paid, this would be a far more economical way to do this.
Socialized Medicine! No, not really. It's not compulsory, it would merely be available for those who want to use it. And Americans being Americans, if you don't think there would be stigma attached to using a government clinic that would keep most people away, you are high.
GOING BACK, AWAY BACK: Scotland and England sign the Treaty of Edinburg-Northhampton on this date in 1328, ending the First War of Scottish Independence, with Scotland recognized as an independent kingdom.
Deja Vu All Over Again: The English, who can never keep their mitts out of anybody's business for too long, were so determined to see the Scots remain independent they started the Second War of Scottish Independence in 1332.
Welcome Back: The Acts of Union, unifying Scotland and England as Great Britain, takes effect on this date in 1707. The two countries had shared a monarch since the 1603, but had retained separate legislatures.
"I Disliked A Negro": Moses Fleetwood Walker, known as Fleet, becomes the first black to play major league baseball on this date in 1884, playing catcher for the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association.
Quotable: The quote on the above lead line is from teammate Tony Mullane. Mullane, a pitcher, admitted to being in the habit of disregarding Walker's signs and throwing whatever he wanted, resulting in more passed balls and injures to Walker than he normally would have incurred.
Oh Yeah: Toledo lost to the Louisville Eclipse that day 5-1. It was the season opener for both teams.
FunFact: 1884 was Walker's only big league season. He batted .263 in 42 games.
Get Out Your History Books: The longest game in major league history is played on this date in 1920, a 26-inning, 1-1 tie between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves at Braves Field. The game was called because of darkness.
Recall that yesterday we advised you to remember the name Joe Oeschger. One year and a day after pitching a 20-inning complete game, Oeschger, now with Boston, pitches all 26 innings, as does Brooklyn's Leon Cadore.
Uh, Thanks, I Think: Oeschger, is the only player in major league history to pitch two 20-inning complete games in a career, much less two 20-inning tie games.
The Post Game Show Is Brought To You By Dunkin Donuts: Brooklyn got a run in the fifth when Ernie Kruger scored on an RBI single by Ivy Olson and Boston tied it in the sixth on a single by Tony Boeckel that scored Walton Cruise. Cadore gave up 15 hits, Oeschger nine, and both struck out seven.
Boeckel, along with teammate Charlie Pick, each had eleven at-bats, which tied the major league record for at-bats in an extra-inning game that had been established in 1917 by Pittsburgh's Carson Bigbee. The record has been equaled many times.
Coffee, Tea or Me? A cooked meal is offered on a commercial airline for the first time on this date in 1927, on an Imperial Airways flight from London to Paris.
As Long As Your History Books Are Out: The Empire State Building, then the world's tallest building, opens on this date in 1931 in New York City. It is 1,250 feet high and cost almost $41 million to build. It replaces the nearby Chrysler Building as the world's tallest building, and would hold the title until the Ostankino Tower opens in Moscow in 1963.
Higher…Stronger…Oh, Screw It: The 1940 Summer Olympics, scheduled for Helsinki, Finland after they were taken from Tokyo, Japan in 1938, are officially cancelled on this date in 1940.
FunFact: The Olympics would not resume until the London Games of 1948.
FunFact, Or Maybe This Is Dry, Technical Matter Or Maybe A Fly In The Ointment Type Deal: War II spoiled the debut of, get this, gliding, as an Olympic sport, as it was scheduled to debut at the 1940 Summer Games. It had been a demonstration sport in Berlin in 1936.
Thought For The Day: Life is being on the wire. Everything else is just waiting. - Rick Wallenda
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: John Adams' vice-presidential salary in 1789 was $5,000 a year.
Today's Stumper: What was the first tallest building in the world that wasn't a pyramid? - Answer next time!
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