Kristy's Blog

I just got my bill for my hospital stay: $1700 after my out of pocket and deductibles. Yikes!

The UK: Percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on health care: 8.3
Average family premium: None; funded by taxation.

Japan: Percentage of GDP spent on health care: 8
Average family premium: $280 per month, with employers paying more than half.
Co-payments: 30 percent of the cost of a procedure, but the total amount paid in a month is capped according to income.

Germany: Percentage of GDP spent on health care: 10.7
Average family premium: $750 per month; premiums are pegged to patients’ income.
Co-payments: 10 euros ($15) every three months; some patients, like pregnant women, are exempt.

Taiwan: Percentage GDP spent on health care: 6.3
Average family premium: $650 per year for a family for four.
Co-payments: 20 percent of the cost of drugs, up to $6.50; up to $7 for outpatient care; $1.80 for dental and traditional Chinese medicine. There are exemptions for major diseases, childbirth, preventive services, and for the poor, veterans, and children.

Switzerland: Percentage of GDP spent on health care: 11.6
Average monthly family premium: $750, paid entirely by consumers; there are government subsidies for low-income citizens.
Co-payments: 10 percent of the cost of services, up to $420 per year.

Read the whole article here.

The darkest night reveals the brightest of stars. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Well, I resisted for years. I guess I’ve just lost out on all those benefits, but no time like the present to make it up. They say it reduces pain, clears your mind, and stimulates your brain, and can be healing.

I gotta say that I have found it to be somewhat therapeutic. If you’ve ever gone to therapy (who me??!), what do they always tell you? Journal. So there you have it.

Here’s the article in Scientific America.

Just got this email: “Become a Psychologist Online” 😆 😆

I am excited! I may actually willingly purchase an American made and engineered car. I’ve purchased a Mazda made in Detroit and a Mercedes made in Alabama, but they were not American engineered.

From Edmunds:

The Chevrolet Volt is projected to be released in November 2010 as the vehicle’s innovative gas-electric powertrain is being test-driven for the first time on public roads and is hitting its target of 40 miles on pure electric power.

“Today is a big day,” GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told Edmunds’ AutoObserver in an exclusive interview Tuesday. “Today is the first day it is running on the street on battery power.”

Lutz said the Volt’s powertrain, comprised of an advanced lithium-ion battery and a small gasoline engine, was installed into a mule vehicle and is being driven on public roads around the automaker’s proving grounds in Milford, Michigan. More important, Lutz said, the battery is hitting GM’s goal of 40 miles on pure electric power.

“It is reliably meeting its objectives,” Lutz confirmed. “Even with a rough calibration, even with the wrong drive unit, the wrong body, etc. etc., it has been hitting its 40 miles on electric power.”

Learn more about the Volt.

Yes, an actual quote from Bill Gates, at the “All Things Digital” conference, when questioned about the Yahoo/Microsoft ill-fated romance. The conversation has widely been reported all over the web, and even got a mention in my favorite gossip rag, the Wall Street Journal.

http://d6.allthingsd.com/20080528/monopolies/

[Microsoft CEO Steve] Ballmer: To accelerate scale it made sense for us to consider a Yahoo acquisition. The truth of the matter is, if nobody else gets scale except the current leader, what happens? … Some day all the ads for The Wall Street Journal Online might be sold by one guy and he’ll tell you exactly how much your editorial is worth.

Kara: Yeah, like a monopoly. Interesting.

Walt: That’s a great point. That’s exactly the sort of argument that was made against Microsoft.

Ballmer: Am I saying there’s something wrong? I’m just saying we are guys who will compete. That’s all I’m saying.

Gates: Guys like us avoid monopolies. We like to compete.

Don’t I keep telling you I’m a geek?

Yes, I’m a geek!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/index.html

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, there will be peace. – Jimi Hendrix

I think if you’re trying to get that last ice cube out of that 60 oz cup and it blocks your vision, it’s as bad as texting while driving.

Scottsdale is a 0-horse town. Has anyone seen any horses south of Shea for 20 yrs? Let’s stop w/this “Western” slogan crap.