I'll agree with your assessment of doctors and the 1%. As for industrial workers, I'm very familiar with those who were overpaid assembly line drones for the UAW. I can give numerous examples, but here's just one. Back around '74, my girlfriends brother hired in at $25k to do assembly line labor, right out of high school. According to the "Inflation Calculator", that's over $118k in todays dollars, and doesn't even account for any overtime, weekend, or holiday labor, which was extremely generous...potentially triple pay. So, the comparison is more and apples & oranges, than even up.
So, what is the TCO of a colonoscopy. The WP argues "Medicare pays for a 15-minute colonoscopy as if it took 75 minutes". But they fail to account for all the costs of that visit. Mine (just last week) started with a 9:30 scheduled arrival, review of medical history, and checking to see that I followed the required preparation. I met with the Dr. at 10am, and was on the table about 15 mins later. I woke from the process around 11am, and was checked by the doctor again, and given the results, and out the door around 11:30. Was that 15 mins that the Post is complaining about fair? I don't think so.
Having just had my first colonoscopy just last week, I can vouch that it took the doctor much longer than the Washington Post is claiming. I spoke with him before and after the procedure. Did it take 75 mins? Maybe slightly less if you consider that he wasn't with me the entire time, and I couldn't even confirm that it was him who did the procedure, since I was knocked out. How much time should the doctor spend talking to you, and reviewing the results, even if the specific procedure was 15 minutes?
I grew up there. Detroit was, and still is one of the most segregated cities in the nation. People left for the suburbs to escape crime, crappy schools, and political mischief on the part of former mayors. The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Center was built back in 77 as a way to draw business back. The Lions and Pistons moved back, and casinos moved in. It's not enough though, and there's little that can be done now without flattening most of the blighted neighborhoods, and starting over.
While the numbers may be statistically insignificant, I suspect some folks don't have higher speeds by choice. Using my own area (Northern VA) as an example, we have choices of cable, FIOS, and satellite. My cable company offers several tiers of service. The basic home service I receive gives me ~25Mbps. There are several offerings at higher prices with more bandwidth (up to ~150). I have no need for more, and certainly don't want to pay more.
While I'd love agree with your interpretation, it simply doesn't hold water in any court currently. You can live in a fantasy, or you can deal with the situation we have, and try to fix it.
Unfortunately, there is currently precious little in the law that grants U.S. citizens any privacy rights. When the country was founded, this was simply taken for granted, as the government only had the rights specifically given them in the constitution. Now, it seems that we need to go back and put it in black and white for them.
You don't need this if they can be driven directly to NK undetected. They could easily be hidden from satellites with other trucks in normal trade. Again, I'd argue that there's no logical reason to do what was suggested.
Agreed. That's what I meant about "and smart", though you expressed it more clearly than I. I was watching Bill Maher a couple days ago, and was surprised (I often disagree with him, but find his show entertaining) to hear him complain about too many kids trying to become actors, or sports stars, when there's precious few opportunities for them. The same goes for those who go to college for art, history, psych, etc., etc. Do we need some of those, yes. Can you expect to make a good living at it, your odds are as good as winning the lotto. So, if you made that choice, your right to complain about it is forfeit in my opinion.
Yes, I'm well aware that times are tougher than usual at the moment. I see it with my own kid, who just graduated, having a difficult time finding a decent position even with the advantage of our connections and living in an area with low unemployment. I never insinuated that some don't have an advantage. Having advantage isn't always necessary. There are plenty of examples of immigrants to the U.S., who've started with the clothes on their back, and made it. Will everyone, no, is everyone smart, no. We've had too many kids going to school for degrees in areas where there is no decent career path, and wondering why it's so hard to get by once they graduate. I do agree with you on your point about social programs, they need to be for basic needs and training...mandatory training.
Times were tough when I got out of the military in 1981, in the middle of one of the U.S.'s worst recessions, and ~20% unemployment in the Detroit area, where I was. Yes, I was advantaged...my grandmother loaned me $1500 to obtain a workable vehicle. I'd love to heard your definition of "totally wrecked", I've seen a few around the auto industry that some would call "totally wrecked", but in my opinion they were far from it. Totally wrecked, are the people I came across in places like the outskirts of Jakarta, and Bangkok, and Seoul (much better now than when I was there), who's only opportunities were to farm what land they could, or sell their bodies to put food on their kids plates.
Yes, if my sample of people was statistically out of the norm, I'd agree with some of your points. Does it matter though...The parent argued "there's no reason to work hard...", which only requires a single data point to counter, and I've known easily a couple hundred. I'm including some like myself who started out poor in inner city Detroit...no inheritance, or connections. I've met plenty who haven't worked hard, but obviously, my estimation of hard work won't match yours or anyone elses.
Just one last point to add about my sample size. I've traveled to 50+ countries, and 48 states, and lived overseas for a dozen years. Is my view limited, certainly, but it's not insignificant.
The paradox of extremes. In a communistic society, there's no reason to work hard because your can get the same rewards without exertion. In what we simplistically call a "capitalistic" society there's no reason to work hard because the people who got there first will deny you the benefits anyway.
I'll call BS on your simplistic view of capitalism. In my 54 years, I've met very few people that worked hard and were unsuccessful. There have been exceptions, and usually it was because they had made poor choices in the areas they worked. Working hard and smart is key, and stop blaming society if you have a rough time for a while. Shit happens to everyone, losers whine, winners work harder.
Correct, the poster didn't even read the link he provided http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flicker_fusion_threshold. That shows the human rate to be around 16Hz. From the page... "For the purposes of presenting moving images, the human flicker fusion threshold is usually taken as 16 hertz (Hz). In actual practice, movies are recorded at 24 frames per second, and TV cameras operate at 25 or 30 frames per second, depending on the TV system used."
For a lot of "your" tasks it isn't good enough. Looking at Facebook posts requires no more than a touch interface.
Yeah, I look at FB on my iPad, but for creating any posts, it's not good enough. Maybe if I had one of those addon keyboards, it would be better, but I've yet to see one that's worth a shit. Typing at 70+wpm on a real keyboard, beats using a screen keypad anyday.
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I'll agree with your assessment of doctors and the 1%. As for industrial workers, I'm very familiar with those who were overpaid assembly line drones for the UAW. I can give numerous examples, but here's just one. Back around '74, my girlfriends brother hired in at $25k to do assembly line labor, right out of high school. According to the "Inflation Calculator", that's over $118k in todays dollars, and doesn't even account for any overtime, weekend, or holiday labor, which was extremely generous...potentially triple pay. So, the comparison is more and apples & oranges, than even up.
So, what is the TCO of a colonoscopy. The WP argues "Medicare pays for a 15-minute colonoscopy as if it took 75 minutes". But they fail to account for all the costs of that visit. Mine (just last week) started with a 9:30 scheduled arrival, review of medical history, and checking to see that I followed the required preparation. I met with the Dr. at 10am, and was on the table about 15 mins later. I woke from the process around 11am, and was checked by the doctor again, and given the results, and out the door around 11:30. Was that 15 mins that the Post is complaining about fair? I don't think so.
Having just had my first colonoscopy just last week, I can vouch that it took the doctor much longer than the Washington Post is claiming. I spoke with him before and after the procedure. Did it take 75 mins? Maybe slightly less if you consider that he wasn't with me the entire time, and I couldn't even confirm that it was him who did the procedure, since I was knocked out. How much time should the doctor spend talking to you, and reviewing the results, even if the specific procedure was 15 minutes?
I agree, which is why they need to declare bankruptcy.
Far from it. I have family there, and it's where I heard the term.
I grew up there. Detroit was, and still is one of the most segregated cities in the nation. People left for the suburbs to escape crime, crappy schools, and political mischief on the part of former mayors. The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Center was built back in 77 as a way to draw business back. The Lions and Pistons moved back, and casinos moved in. It's not enough though, and there's little that can be done now without flattening most of the blighted neighborhoods, and starting over.
Mod parent up.
This is the reason I'm a former resident of the Socialist Republic of Maryland.
Thanks for the enlightenment. I was one of the misguided, who believed it was Flint. Off to the salt mines.
While the numbers may be statistically insignificant, I suspect some folks don't have higher speeds by choice. Using my own area (Northern VA) as an example, we have choices of cable, FIOS, and satellite. My cable company offers several tiers of service. The basic home service I receive gives me ~25Mbps. There are several offerings at higher prices with more bandwidth (up to ~150). I have no need for more, and certainly don't want to pay more.
I'm hoping that this was an attempt at humor. A 30% increase on $100 is how much?
"this type"?? Who's stereotyping here?
And besides, if you've shared your data with some company, the government no longer considers it your private data.
I prefer DAMM...Drunks Against Mad Mothers
While I'd love agree with your interpretation, it simply doesn't hold water in any court currently. You can live in a fantasy, or you can deal with the situation we have, and try to fix it.
Funding didn't come about unilaterally.
Violating the privacy and rights of everyone.
Unfortunately, there is currently precious little in the law that grants U.S. citizens any privacy rights. When the country was founded, this was simply taken for granted, as the government only had the rights specifically given them in the constitution. Now, it seems that we need to go back and put it in black and white for them.
And you must be a troll if you don't think it's part of the total package of getting a four year degree.
Welcome to plausible deniability.
You don't need this if they can be driven directly to NK undetected. They could easily be hidden from satellites with other trucks in normal trade. Again, I'd argue that there's no logical reason to do what was suggested.
these were missiles being laundered from Russia to NK through Cuba
North Korea and Russia share a border. There's no reason for them to attempt what you're suggesting.
Agreed. That's what I meant about "and smart", though you expressed it more clearly than I. I was watching Bill Maher a couple days ago, and was surprised (I often disagree with him, but find his show entertaining) to hear him complain about too many kids trying to become actors, or sports stars, when there's precious few opportunities for them. The same goes for those who go to college for art, history, psych, etc., etc. Do we need some of those, yes. Can you expect to make a good living at it, your odds are as good as winning the lotto. So, if you made that choice, your right to complain about it is forfeit in my opinion.
Yes, I'm well aware that times are tougher than usual at the moment. I see it with my own kid, who just graduated, having a difficult time finding a decent position even with the advantage of our connections and living in an area with low unemployment. I never insinuated that some don't have an advantage. Having advantage isn't always necessary. There are plenty of examples of immigrants to the U.S., who've started with the clothes on their back, and made it. Will everyone, no, is everyone smart, no. We've had too many kids going to school for degrees in areas where there is no decent career path, and wondering why it's so hard to get by once they graduate. I do agree with you on your point about social programs, they need to be for basic needs and training...mandatory training.
Times were tough when I got out of the military in 1981, in the middle of one of the U.S.'s worst recessions, and ~20% unemployment in the Detroit area, where I was. Yes, I was advantaged...my grandmother loaned me $1500 to obtain a workable vehicle. I'd love to heard your definition of "totally wrecked", I've seen a few around the auto industry that some would call "totally wrecked", but in my opinion they were far from it. Totally wrecked, are the people I came across in places like the outskirts of Jakarta, and Bangkok, and Seoul (much better now than when I was there), who's only opportunities were to farm what land they could, or sell their bodies to put food on their kids plates.
Yes, if my sample of people was statistically out of the norm, I'd agree with some of your points. Does it matter though...The parent argued "there's no reason to work hard...", which only requires a single data point to counter, and I've known easily a couple hundred. I'm including some like myself who started out poor in inner city Detroit...no inheritance, or connections. I've met plenty who haven't worked hard, but obviously, my estimation of hard work won't match yours or anyone elses.
Just one last point to add about my sample size. I've traveled to 50+ countries, and 48 states, and lived overseas for a dozen years. Is my view limited, certainly, but it's not insignificant.
The paradox of extremes. In a communistic society, there's no reason to work hard because your can get the same rewards without exertion. In what we simplistically call a "capitalistic" society there's no reason to work hard because the people who got there first will deny you the benefits anyway.
I'll call BS on your simplistic view of capitalism. In my 54 years, I've met very few people that worked hard and were unsuccessful. There have been exceptions, and usually it was because they had made poor choices in the areas they worked. Working hard and smart is key, and stop blaming society if you have a rough time for a while. Shit happens to everyone, losers whine, winners work harder.
Correct, the poster didn't even read the link he provided http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flicker_fusion_threshold. That shows the human rate to be around 16Hz.
From the page...
"For the purposes of presenting moving images, the human flicker fusion threshold is usually taken as 16 hertz (Hz). In actual practice, movies are recorded at 24 frames per second, and TV cameras operate at 25 or 30 frames per second, depending on the TV system used."
For a lot of "your" tasks it isn't good enough. Looking at Facebook posts requires no more than a touch interface.
Yeah, I look at FB on my iPad, but for creating any posts, it's not good enough. Maybe if I had one of those addon keyboards, it would be better, but I've yet to see one that's worth a shit. Typing at 70+wpm on a real keyboard, beats using a screen keypad anyday.