With no single national calamity to focus on this week, the Sunday New York Times brings us mélange of Big Journalism on Important Topics, the general drift of which leads us to wish we'd stayed in bed. For starters, there's another must-read piece by Elizabeth Rosenthal, whose specialty is digging into just why the American medical system manages to be the world's most expensive even though it doesn't actually cover everyone. No, not even under Obamacare, imagine that. This time out, Rosenthal looks at the phenomenon of surprise extra fees in hospital bills, which can come from seemingly anywhere. As reimbursement rates from both Medicare and private insurance have been cut, hospitals have been bringing in high-priced, out-of-network specialists to help with tasks that often used to be done by residents or other hospital employees. Take, for instance, Rosenthal's lead example of Peter Drier, a guy who had back surgery that he thought he'd planned for financially, but which resulted in bills from both the surgeon he knew would do the operation (and who readily accepted Drier's insurance reimbursement, about $6,200), and an "assistant surgeon" who charged just under $117,000 and would not negotiate on the cost:
Turns out the Herald didn't know Hart had challenged a reporter to follow him around until after they had already started following him around, and the anonymous woman who whistle-blew the affair wasn't who everyone thought it was, and feels bad about it now. Also, Gary and his wife are still together, so there's that.
<b>Journamalism Inquiry</b> My local dead tree fishwrap is axing most of it&#039;s national coverage, including the majority of it&#039;s editorial columnists; now it&#039;s just a one-page wasteland with a huge section of letters to the editor. The only thing I read the daily for is the front page, national news, the editorials-- even the wingnut rants give me something to think about-- and the funnies. The NYT has the editorials and national news, but no funnies. I cannot afford the ideal alternative, buy both papers and mashemup into one decent one. So which should I give up?
As a fairly new ex-smoker, if I found myself in possession of a few cartons of cigarettes, I wouldn&#039;t force them on people. I would carry a pack to pass on to the people who ask if I can spare one, and the guys who roll up the dog-ends they pick out of the ashtrays outside the bar. I was given to understand that my donations help to keep the Editrix in smokes as well as healthier things, like wine and whisky.
&quot;Instead, she feigned confidence all the way to the faculty of Harvard Business School. &ldquo;Fake it till you become it&rdquo; is her rallying cry.&quot;
The respect I feel for our nation&#039;s leaders is bottomless.
&quot;J. Edward Neugebauer, chief litigation officer at Aetna, said the company had also sued an in-network neurosurgeon on Long Island who always called in an out-of-network partner to assist, resulting in huge charges. The surgeons shared a business address.&quot;
Why sue, when you can just tell these thieves &quot;Fuck off, we&#039;re not paying&quot;?
No mention of the 15,000-word tick-tocker in the magazine on Gary Hart and Donna Rice?
I certainly didn&#039;t read it, but was hoping someone else would.
*raises hand*
I did.
Turns out the Herald didn&#039;t know Hart had challenged a reporter to follow him around until after they had already started following him around, and the anonymous woman who whistle-blew the affair wasn&#039;t who everyone thought it was, and feels bad about it now. Also, Gary and his wife are still together, so there&#039;s that.
<b>Journamalism Inquiry</b> My local dead tree fishwrap is axing most of it&#039;s national coverage, including the majority of it&#039;s editorial columnists; now it&#039;s just a one-page wasteland with a huge section of letters to the editor. The only thing I read the daily for is the front page, national news, the editorials-- even the wingnut rants give me something to think about-- and the funnies. The NYT has the editorials and national news, but no funnies. I cannot afford the ideal alternative, buy both papers and mashemup into one decent one. So which should I give up?
&quot;Williams&rsquo;s ever-present blackface&quot;
See, Black people are the real racists.
As a fairly new ex-smoker, if I found myself in possession of a few cartons of cigarettes, I wouldn&#039;t force them on people. I would carry a pack to pass on to the people who ask if I can spare one, and the guys who roll up the dog-ends they pick out of the ashtrays outside the bar. I was given to understand that my donations help to keep the Editrix in smokes as well as healthier things, like wine and whisky.
&quot;Instead, she feigned confidence all the way to the faculty of Harvard Business School. &ldquo;Fake it till you become it&rdquo; is her rallying cry.&quot;
The respect I feel for our nation&#039;s leaders is bottomless.
<i>&ldquo;Fake it till you become it&rdquo; is her rallying cry.</i>
Um, excuse me, ma&#039;am: does the name &quot;George W Bush&quot; ring a bell?
I thought it went back to George F(uckhead) Will?
&quot;J. Edward Neugebauer, chief litigation officer at Aetna, said the company had also sued an in-network neurosurgeon on Long Island who always called in an out-of-network partner to assist, resulting in huge charges. The surgeons shared a business address.&quot;
Why sue, when you can just tell these thieves &quot;Fuck off, we&#039;re not paying&quot;?
BOT, Swampy.