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Tuesday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue May 07, 2013 at 06:05:07 PM EST
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Long day, spent entirely with sprinkler and air conditioning people. One pipe had a pin leak, the AC unit was really dirty. But what a difference.

[More...]

Denver is in drought status, we can only water the lawn two days a week.

I'm now going to read the news.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Additional information regarding Plan B (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by MO Blue on Tue May 07, 2013 at 07:16:12 PM EST
    Special treatment for Teva Plan B One-Step?

    The judge noted that the FDA's restrictions still apply to other forms of emergency contraception, including a two-pill version of Plan B and its generic equivalents. These are only available to women 17 and older with identification.
    ...
    A lawyer for the plaintiffs, Janet Crepps of the Center for Reproductive Rights, countered that the different access rules for Plan B One-Step and other forms of emergency contraception had created a "convoluted" system for girls and women seeking the drug in its brand name and generic forms.
    link

    Also at issue was the affordability of the drug, which can cost up to $50. Or, as Korman put it, waving toward the representative from Teva Pharmaceuticals, "Those price gougers over there." The citizen's petition filed by reproductive rights advocates had asked for all forms of the drug, including generics, to be available over-the-counter, and not just Teva's Plan B One Step, which Korman had granted. If Teva loses its exclusivity for the single-dose and over-the-counter version, which the FDA just extended for three more years, competition will presumably lower the price. The government has said that Teva is entitled to its exclusivity for three more years because it had to pay for extra usage studies and to more broadly encourage drug innovation. link
    In France (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by lentinel on Tue May 07, 2013 at 08:49:46 PM EST
    the morning after pill costs about a buck and a half.


    Parent
    The fact that the morning after pill has been (none / 0) (#10)
    by MO Blue on Tue May 07, 2013 at 09:39:30 PM EST
    available in France for over a decade and is sold for about a $1.50 is one of the reasons why France has a much lower teenage pregnancy rate.

    Teenage pregnancy rate.

    France - 2.6% birth rate percentage.
    U.S comes in with - highest birth rate percentage of 7.6%.

    Judge also smacks down administration's claim of "public interest."

    Amanat argued that making a hormonal drug like Plan B over-the-counter was unprecedented, and that the public interest was served "when the government acts deliberately and incrementally." Korman cut in sarcastically, "Tell me about the public interest. Is there a public interest in unplanned pregnancies? Some of which end in abortions?" link


    Parent
    Are there any reputable reports of (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Tue May 07, 2013 at 10:09:15 PM EST
    adverse consequences to repeated ingestion of the pulls?

    Parent
    I haven't seen any reports by any reputable (none / 0) (#16)
    by MO Blue on Tue May 07, 2013 at 11:34:22 PM EST
    source. The articles I've seen on adverse consequences are of the type that combine you are aborting a baby with you can die from repeated use.

    Morning after pills have been used for a couple of decades in Europe. I would think any major problem with using them would have been discovered and reported by now. The FDA has conducted several studies and all reputable sources have stated it is safe as follows:

    Plan B is safer than many other current OTC medicines, such as aspirin and other painkillers. While an overdose of any of these medications can have dangerous consequences, it is actually impossible to overdose on the morning-after pill.

    ...the FDA, after extensive review, concluded that Plan B should be sold over the counter

    The FDA wanted to remove any Plan B age restrictions, based on research showing that access to the morning-after pill does not increase a woman's likelihood to have unprotected sex, and that this drug is safe for use by girls as young as 11. Two studies reported that, when provided with Plan B, girls ages 11 to 17 were able to understand the package directions, and demonstrated that they could use emergency contraception safely and appropriately without the help of a physician.

    The American College of Obstrecians and Gynecologists has released a statement in response to the FDA's new policy. The group of medical experts commends the FDA's attempt to expand access to emergency contraception for teens, but reiterates that "the medical evidence demonstrates that EC is safe and effective in preventing pregnancy for all reproductive-age females" and "the College strongly encourages the FDA to reaffirm its earlier decision to approve EC for unrestricted over-the-counter access."


    Parent
    I was curious if a female relied on the (none / 0) (#17)
    by oculus on Tue May 07, 2013 at 11:54:45 PM EST
    morning after pill as opposed to birth control pills if she might have adverse effects or jeopardize her ability to conceive or carry to term at a later date.

    Parent
    I don't know (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by MO Blue on Wed May 08, 2013 at 04:33:44 AM EST
    Guess you would have to do research on that. I haven't seen the FDA or reports coming out of Europe identifying that as a problem.   At $35 to $50 per dose here in the U.S. I can't see where someone would use it on a regular basis. Of course, if you only had sex once or twice a year, it might be a viable alternative. ;o)

    Parent
    They don't work for everyone (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 06:57:35 AM EST
    My daughter used one once, and it didn't work.  More information, she has some unique things going on.  They will never work for her.  She is a very tiny minority though.  They are the same chemical makeup though as birth control pills.  They only attempt to disrupt ovulation.

    Parent
    Good question. (none / 0) (#21)
    by lentinel on Wed May 08, 2013 at 05:34:19 AM EST
    There are two issues here as far as I am concerned.

    One is the matter of safety.
    Like any drug, imo this should be researched by the individual taking the product and she should make up her own mind - in consultation with a physician if she should desire.

    There is information on the internet.

    The other issue is the matter of cost.

    This is but one of the many drugs that our drug companies gouge us for. Ambien is another. (10 pills for about $3.00))
    How or why this is permitted to go on is a scandal as far as I am concerned.

    Parent

    Same chemical makeup (none / 0) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 06:54:07 AM EST
    As a Birth control pill, one dose though, not 21 days worth.  Can't see how they could be dangerous, certainly not more dangerous than aspirin.

    Parent
    And when we find out that the US (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Anne on Wed May 08, 2013 at 08:11:24 AM EST
    has the highest first-day infant death rate in the industrialized world, the ongoing resistance to birth control and emergency contraception and abortion just defies reason.

    Considering the United States' dismal record on infant mortality, it seems to follow that advancing programs to support youth who may become pregnant, as well as expanding women's access to preventative health services like contraception and prenatal and maternal care, would be a top priority for both women's health groups and pro-life groups. But that hasn't exactly been the case in the United States. Intent on attacking family planning services as well as abortion, anti-choice activists have successfully waged a war against some of the same health resources that could help the U.S. prevent infant deaths at rates closer to other industrialized nations.

    It's almost like the anti-choice/anti-birth control/anti-government spending crowd thinks things like low infant and maternal mortality happen by magic or wishing or clapping really, really hard, and I'm embarrassed - ashamed, really - that we are allowing this much ignorance to rule the day - at the expense of many, many lives and futures.

    Parent

    I read something years ago about the US's (none / 0) (#29)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 08, 2013 at 08:15:51 AM EST
    infant mortality rate, iirc, a good bit of it has to do with the US's obesity rate.

    Parent
    From the report, (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Anne on Wed May 08, 2013 at 08:43:51 AM EST
    which is here (pdf):

    The U.S. preterm birth rate (1 in 8 births) is one of the highest in the industrialized world (second only to Cyprus). In fact, 130 countries from all across the world have lower preterm birth rates than the United States. The U.S. prematurity rate is twice that of Finland, Japan, Norway and Sweden. The United States has over half a million preterm births each year - the sixth largest number in the world (after India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia).173

    [snip]

    The United States also has the highest adolescent birth rate of any industrialized country. Teenage mothers in the U.S. tend to be poorer, 175 less educated, 176 and receive less prenatal care 177 than older mothers. Because of these challenges, babies born to teen mothers are more likely to be low-birthweight and be born prematurely 178 and to die in their first month. 179 They are also more likely to suffer chronic medical conditions, do poorly in school, and give birth during their teen years (continuing the cycle of teen pregnancy). 180

    [snip]

    What can be done to reduce first-day deaths in the United States and elsewhere in the industrialized world? Investments in education, health care and sexual health awareness for youth will help address some of the root causes. 186 Wider use of family planning will also improve birth outcomes and reduce newborn deaths. In the United States, 49 percent of pregnancies are unplanned 187 and these babies are at higher risk of death and disability. 188 Efforts to improve women's health would also have a positive impact on survival rates of babies. High-quality care before, during and after pregnancy (including home visits by nurses or community health workers if appropriate) and access to the appropriate level of care at the time of delivery can result in healthier mothers giving birth to healthier babies.

    That 49% of pregnancies in the US are unplanned is astounding to me.

    I haven't read the full report, so can't comment on the obesity connection, but it stands to reason that it would be a contributing risk factor.

    Parent

    Obesity has a dramatic affect (none / 0) (#30)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 08:40:30 AM EST
    On a woman's fertility though, so I'm having serious doubts about that claim.  It is hard to get pregnant if you are obese, your hormones become too imbalanced.

    Many obese women if they can afford it or have adequate coverage wind up in the hands of a fertility doctor and recieve prenatal care and monitoring from day one.

    Sorry, just not convinced that obesity is the culprit.  Lack of accessible healthcare is the culprit in Alabama, and I have no idea how badly Alabama's problems are weighing the national numbers down but I bet between Alabama, Mississippi and Texas it is significant.

    Parent

    Note that I did not say what you say I said. (none / 0) (#34)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 08, 2013 at 08:56:34 AM EST
    I did not say "obesity is the culprit," I said "iirc, a good bit of it has to do with the US's obesity rate."

    For example:

    Mississippi is 50th out of 50 states when it comes to infant mortality, and it's been that way for a long time, says state health officer Mary Currier.

    There's not one clear explanation. Experts cite a multitude of factors that are also seen in other parts of the country and around the world.

    For example, Mississippi leads the nation in obesity, which can carry with it a host of complications that might affect a baby, such as hypertensive disorders, says Dr. Michelle Owens, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

    Other Southern states with a high prevalence of obesity -- Alabama and Louisiana, for instance -- also have some of the nation's highest rates for infant mortality.

    A 2010 study also found that overweight and obese women are at higher risk for preterm birth.

    The top three causes of infant death in Oklahoma are very low birth weight/prematurity, birth defects of the heart and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

    Contributing to these top causes are tobacco use, obesity, limited access to preventive health care before a pregnancy, not taking a vitamin with folic acid before becoming pregnant, unsafe infant sleep conditions and poverty.



    Parent
    I live down here (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 09:06:37 AM EST
    And sadly Alabama and Mississippi are very similar culturally and politically.  They race each other to the bottom on so many specific items.  I'm going to be very unscientific and report from the ground, it is a lack of available and accessible healthcare on all fronts...period.

    A person's health in both states is of no political, policy, or cultural importance.  Pray, you probably made God mad and he had to do all this to you to get even.  And if you are pregnant, well you really did do that to yourself you slut and you do deserve something horrible to happen to you in that event.

    Parent

    And because they are working like mad (none / 0) (#37)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 09:16:12 AM EST
    to shutdown availability to any kind of abortion services and are beginning to find family planning abhorrent too in both states, expect these numbers to get worse before they get better.

    They are really beginning to want to fight almost all family planning.  I don't exactly know why because the state is so broke and the natives here hate change and they hate anything that they might have to tend to or take care of down the road as well.  You would think they would want loads and loads of cheap federal provided family planning.  Maybe it is because they seem to be on the cusp of a voter shortage.

    After you treat everyone like hell though for 18 years, how many of them will have the self esteem to even make it to the polls or a car to drive there for that matter.

    Parent

    Mississippi has had the highest (none / 0) (#39)
    by MO Blue on Wed May 08, 2013 at 09:24:22 AM EST
    teenage birth rate for several years running also.

    Which State Has the Highest Teen Birth Rate?

    But the news isn't so good in Mississippi, which once again has the highest teen birth rate of any state in the country: 55 per every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19 in 2010, the most recent year for which data are available.


    Parent
    Parts of the Bay State, too. (none / 0) (#55)
    by mplo on Wed May 08, 2013 at 04:30:50 PM EST
    Parts of the Bay State, too, have high incidences of teenaged pregnancy and out-of-wedlock births.

    South Boston (Southie), MA
    Chicopee, MA
    North Adams, MA
    Charlestown, MA

    to name afew.

    Parent

    BTW Alabama and Louisiana are also in the (none / 0) (#40)
    by MO Blue on Wed May 08, 2013 at 09:31:38 AM EST
    top 10 states with the highest teenage birth rate.

    Alabama ranks #9 - 43.6 per every 1,000 girls

    Louisiana ranks #6 - 47.7 per every 1,000 girls

    Parent

    Also from the report: (none / 0) (#38)
    by Anne on Wed May 08, 2013 at 09:18:47 AM EST
    Prematurity is the single largest cause of newborn deaths worldwide. Preterm births, severe infections and complications during childbirth together account for more than 80 percent of all deaths among newborn babies.
    --
    Source: Li Liu, et al. "Global, Regional and National Causes of Child Mortality: An Updated Systematic Analysis for 2010 with Time Trends Since 2000." The Lancet

    From what I'm reading, being underweight is more of a risk factor in first-day mortality than obesity.

    Parent

    By underweight, you were referring to the babies, (none / 0) (#42)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 08, 2013 at 09:55:41 AM EST
    right?
    Risk Factors for Low Birth Weight and Premature Babies

    A pregnant mother's clinical condition could also serve a major concern for a normal healthy birth of a child. It is believed that conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac ailments and malfunctioning of any other vital organ like kidney can contribute to a premature birth.

    Over 80% of people with diabetes are overweight or obese.
    Conclusions Overweight and obese women have increased risks of preterm birth and induced preterm birth and, after accounting for publication bias, appeared to have increased risks of preterm birth overall.


    Parent
    Since I haven't read the whole report, (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Anne on Wed May 08, 2013 at 10:16:31 AM EST
    and you didn't provide a link, I'm not sure whether what you've quoted comes from it, or from somewhere else.

    The problems in developed countries are different than in the rest of the world - nutrition is an issue regardless of whether someone is over- or underweight, because, as we all should know, just because someone is overweight does not mean they are properly nourished.

    I think the point of all of this is that there's no good reason why our maternal/infant mortality numbers should be so high, not when we keep claiming that we have the best health care in the world.  No, we're not sub-Saharan Africa, but does it make any sense to you that we are the 30th most dangerous place for women to have babies?

    Parent

    It's 3 different reports, I'm sure if you copy (2.00 / 1) (#45)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 08, 2013 at 10:26:22 AM EST
    and paste the verbiage into google the reports will pop up. I've really slowed down on linking these days, it's additional work and most of the time someone else who has a different opinion finds a link that contradicts the link you put up so it's all a conversation about opinions anyway...

    ...anyway, there are also criticisms of these various studies that compare rates (of just about anything) from one country to another because, it's claimed, most countries' data is not equivalent.

    For example, it is claimed that France, iirc, does not count infant deaths within the first 24 or 48 hours (or some such), while the US does.

    Parent

    A nice long excuse as (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by sj on Wed May 08, 2013 at 06:16:16 PM EST
    to why someone else should back up your claims. If you post a link to a study and someone rebuts with a link to another study, that's give and take.

    If, however, one posts a link to a study and someone rebuts by posting a link to an opinion piece that's a fair target for objection.

    And if both people back up their positions with links to opinion pieces, then there is no reason to take either opinion seriously because that really is just mental m@sturbation.

    That's how on-line discussion works.

    So post a link to support your claims and then defend it or not. Or stop making claims.

    Parent

    Nah, you just stop responding. (none / 0) (#58)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 08, 2013 at 06:18:11 PM EST


    Parent
    Nope (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by sj on Wed May 08, 2013 at 06:27:35 PM EST
    I'm going to continue to ask for links. I come here to learn stuff not just to read people's opinions.

    Parent
    Suit yourself. (1.00 / 1) (#61)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 08, 2013 at 11:07:43 PM EST
    No skin off my back, but if you're serious about learning, here's one of my quotes: Conclusions Overweight and obese women have increased risks of preterm birth and induced preterm birth and, after accounting for publication bias, appeared to have increased risks of preterm birth overall. copied into google so that you can learn about it. I'll leave this difficult googling process for you to do for the rest of my quotes, if you want to learn and not be stubborn.

    Parent
    I'm not going to do your (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by sj on Thu May 09, 2013 at 12:55:29 AM EST
    research. I'll take responsibility for my own statements but not yours. I'm rather incredulous you think it's just fine to quote extensively without providing the source.  It's fine to offer an opinion with no backup -- sort of :). That's one sort of conversation.

    But quoting extensively without sourcing your quote is a disservice to your readers and definitely to your source. That's even worse than your more frequent technique of making assertions without backup. And your BS Google search is just that.  A BS Google search.

    Parent

    Willfull ignorance. (none / 0) (#63)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu May 09, 2013 at 08:16:41 AM EST


    Parent
    Whatever your actual reasoning, the (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by Anne on Thu May 09, 2013 at 09:17:42 AM EST
    way this comes across is very passive/aggressive, and all that ends up doing is unnecessarily antagonizing the very people you're purportedly interested in having some kind of conversation/discussion with.

    If I were having a face-to-face conversation with someone, and got an  "I'm not going to tell you where I got that information - if you're interested, you look it up" response to asking where this person had gotten the information he or she was bringing into the discussion, that would be the end of the discussion for me.  If it happened again, on another occasion, I'd have to conclude that this person was a complete jerk and not worthy of engaging.

    Look around.  You don't have to be particularly perceptive to notice that the generally accepted convention when excerpting/quoting from other souces is to provide a link.  It's one thing to say, "I know I read thus-and-such somewhere, but I can't find the link right now," and another to actually quote the material and then refuse to provide a link you presumably have right in front of you - and more or less call anyone who asks for a link lazy for not being willing to insert the text into google themselves.  

    Considering how you have benefited from the research and links provided by everyone else - well, I guess that's the point: you don't consider that at all.

    Parent

    In all honesty I often don't have the time (none / 0) (#66)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu May 09, 2013 at 09:25:45 AM EST
    (or maybe the patience) to read many links, or spend much time typing long comments. I usually just read the quotes commenters put up and assume the quotes are reasonably w/in context. I do like doing my own research though, call me crazy but I like finding stuff and figuring stuff out myself.

    Parent
    Best interview in the history of TV (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue May 07, 2013 at 07:16:23 PM EST
    Charles Ramsey rescues three girls in Cleveland.

    I heard the audio of that interview this (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Anne on Tue May 07, 2013 at 07:54:21 PM EST
    morning as I was driving to work, and I just cracked up. A stand-up guy, for sure, and what an incredible story, but Charles' take on some of the details really just tickled me.

    I hope McDonald's appreciates the plug, too!

    Did you hear his 911 call?  I don't think he was intentionally funny, but he had his moments in that call, too.

    Parent

    I love this guy. (none / 0) (#19)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 08, 2013 at 01:05:09 AM EST


    Parent
    Have you seen/heard the remix? (none / 0) (#22)
    by Anne on Wed May 08, 2013 at 06:24:14 AM EST
    It's good:

    Charles Ramsey Interview Remix

    Parent

    McDonalds... (none / 0) (#48)
    by ScottW714 on Wed May 08, 2013 at 11:45:19 AM EST
    ...Tweeted:
    We salute the courage of Ohio kidnap victims & respect their privacy. Way to go Charles Ramsey- we'll be in touch.


    Parent
    I hope they're in touch.... (none / 0) (#54)
    by kdog on Wed May 08, 2013 at 03:51:55 PM EST
    with Free Mickey D's for life.

    I think Google could pull a pr coup by cutting the guy a nice check for all the youtube hits too.  

    I f*ckin' love this guy too...what a character!

    Worth noting he didn't outsource his responsibility to a fellow human being in distress by dialing 911 first...he acted.  If the reports are true, a 911 call doesn't do d*ck in that town.  A real American hero, I salute him.

    Parent

    F That... (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by ScottW714 on Wed May 08, 2013 at 04:52:28 PM EST
    ...free Mickey D's for life will only ensure a short one.

    He deserves a fricken franchise for the brand name polishing.  Not only did this man associate his heroism with McDonalds, it's been broadcast for absolutely nothing.  I would love to know what a marketing campaign would cost for that kind of brand imaging, if it's even possible.

    But in all seriousness, those girls are so lucky this guy was paying attention and didn't hesitate to help.  It's looking like the cops really blew it and them insisting they didn't is only making it worse.

    Parent

    Don't read the comments! (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by oculus on Tue May 07, 2013 at 10:10:02 PM EST


    Parent
    That's good advice (none / 0) (#60)
    by sj on Wed May 08, 2013 at 10:56:13 PM EST
    in general when viewing videos or news articles.

    Parent
    It came on the news (none / 0) (#8)
    by Jeralyn on Tue May 07, 2013 at 08:24:32 PM EST
    right after Hawaii 5-0 finished an episode eerily similar about a girl held captive for 10 years, chained by ankle bracelet to the bed, and another one just taken. The episode was filmed weeks ago. It was very surreal to have this story come on the news right afterwards.

    Also, I remember thinking as I was watching 5-0, finally a show about kidnapped girls where the parents aren't even under suspicion.

    Parent

    The Boston Marathon in 3 and a half minutes (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by CoralGables on Tue May 07, 2013 at 07:26:40 PM EST
    by a woman from the Boston Herald. She ran it as an entry raising money for charity with camera in hand. She was stopped before the end, lost her camera, had it returned by a couple from California and finished the race 3 weeks later.

    Katie Eastman, of the Boston Herald

    Aloha, Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013). (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue May 07, 2013 at 08:15:17 PM EST
    The films may now look somewhat antiquated and cheesy by today's high-tech standards, but in his day, Ray Harryhausen was a true visionary and pioneer in the art of motion picture special effects. Clash of the Titans (1981) was a favorite of mine in college, and is still one of my guilty pleasures.

    Harryhausen's family announced today on Facebook that he has died at age 92. May he rest in peace.

    I'll never forget those (none / 0) (#14)
    by desertswine on Tue May 07, 2013 at 10:44:48 PM EST
    sword fighting skeletons.  Although I can't remember what movie they were in.

    Parent
    "Jason and the Argonaughts"? (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Tue May 07, 2013 at 11:19:14 PM EST
    Nope, I didn't see it.

    Parent
    Initial reports out of Cleveland (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 07:01:10 AM EST
    The captive women experienced 5 pregnancies, but we have only one child on hand.  Find myself hoping that the press is full of it.  What did that child's mother go through to get her out alive?

    Quiet news from Tuesday (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by CoralGables on Wed May 08, 2013 at 07:23:00 AM EST
    Same sex marriage passed in Delaware Tuesday night making Delaware the 11th state. Governor Jack Markell has said he would sign it. It will go into effect July 1.

    Minnesota could possibly become the 12th state with a marriage equality law when it comes up for a vote tomorrow. Both the House and the Senate believe they have the votes to pass it and Governor Mark Dayton says he will sign the bill.

    Predictions of Medicare Insolvency (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by MO Blue on Wed May 08, 2013 at 10:24:53 AM EST
    The Medicare trustee report of 1990 predicted that Medicare would become insolvent in 2003.

    The Medicare trustee report of 1998 predicted that Medicare would become insolvent in 2008.

    Evidently those predictions were wrong. In fact all of the predictions from 1990 - 1998 were wrong. How about back and forth swings in predictions.

    2000 report predicted that Medicare would become insolvent in 2025.

    2006 report predicted that Medicare would become insolvent in 2018.

    2010 report predicted that Medicare would become insolvent in 2029.

    2011 report predicted that Medicare would become insolvent in 2024.

    And this, my friends, is why we shouldn't be wetting our pants over projected deficits or "shortfalls" projected many years into the future, particularly when it turns out that the big driver of these projected deficits, our general health care costs,may be coming down due to recent reforms with more scheduled to kick in.

    It's a huge mistake to allow our politicians to fear-monger us on behalf of their wealthy benefactors to give up the meager benefits we know we will need many years hence. The beltway crystal ball has always been just a little bit hazy. I don't know about you, but I think I'll take my chances. digby


    Chart - Predictions of Medicare Insolvency

    Looks like Mark Sanford (none / 0) (#5)
    by CoralGables on Tue May 07, 2013 at 07:59:05 PM EST
    is going to pull off a win in South Carolina. He's leading 52.6% - 46.6%  

    Romney won the district by 18 points. Colbert-Busch won Charleston County but not by the margin she needs to win overall.

    Jeralyn (none / 0) (#11)
    by Slado on Tue May 07, 2013 at 09:43:28 PM EST
    I sell these things for a living.

    Very important to clean your outdoor unit a few times a year as well as changing your indoor filter.

    Best way to remember is every time you get a power bill change out the little blue filter.  If you buy the nice high efficient ones you can get away with changing them out once a season.

    Most of the problems techs get are because of dirty indoor and outdoor coils.

    Glad it worked out

    Or you can move to Hawaii. (none / 0) (#18)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed May 08, 2013 at 12:57:18 AM EST
    We have trade winds, so we just open the windows and let the ocean breezes cool the inside of our home. And, of course, you don't need to heat your home in the winter months unless you live above 3,500 ft. elevation over on Maui and the Big Island, where it's been known to drop into the 40s occasionally.

    But you're absolutely right about the importance of cleaning outdoor A/C units regularly. I make it a point to clean my mother's A/C and change the filters every time I'm back in Pasadena, because she never remembers to do it. She had a problem quite similar to Jeralyn's about eight years ago while I was there, and the technician showed my brother and me how to clean the unit properly and change the filters in order to avoid recurring major maintenance issues. You certainly don't want it to fail on you in August or September, the two hottest months of the year.

    In fact, we'll be in Pasadena this weekend, on our way to Elder Daughter's college graduation in New York.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Here in DC (none / 0) (#27)
    by jbindc on Wed May 08, 2013 at 07:37:57 AM EST
    We could be having a lovely protest set for Independence Day - people marching into the city with loaded rifles, and the police meeting them at the Memorial Bridge, also with loaded weapons.

    Seriously - these people think they are actually going to get close to the Capitol and White House to register their complaints??

    Have they noticed the snipers? (none / 0) (#32)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 08:43:53 AM EST
    I'm not walking anywhere near the Capitol or the White House parading around with my loaded gun.  I could be momentarily misunderstood and I don't have a death wish.

    Parent
    Just had a horrible thought (none / 0) (#33)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 08:48:12 AM EST
    They have all watched Olympus has Fallen.  And thought it was reality based and with a little extra time spent at the range...well, what American isn't more affective than North Korea?

    Parent
    I had to go to the guys facebook page (none / 0) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 08, 2013 at 08:59:48 AM EST
    Too funny, someone posts that they are bringing firecrackers to set off near the protest just to see what happens.  Then someone with even drier humor posts

    F*ck the firecracker. Im lighting off M-80s that makes a loud boom so the gubmint breaks out the drones and shows these one tooth inbred gun nutters what fire power really is.

    Murika!

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#41)
    by jbindc on Wed May 08, 2013 at 09:52:08 AM EST
    Will be going into the District via a different route that day. :)

    Parent
    A Real Disaster in the Works (none / 0) (#46)
    by RickyJim on Wed May 08, 2013 at 10:47:50 AM EST
    All during the cold war I always expected to be incinerated by accident.  The Associated Press has a chilling story on the competence of those who currently have their hands on the nuclear trigger.  Could it be any better in other countries with nuclear arsenals?

    Just another example of (none / 0) (#47)
    by brodie on Wed May 08, 2013 at 11:34:27 AM EST
    why we need to reduce our nuke arsenal down to at least what would pass to a reasonable person as a bare minimum, before hopefully one day eliminating all of them. McNamara was on the right track.

    Still the existing situation is a vast improvement over the command and control situation prior to Kennedy, when the USAF, with Gen Curtis LeMay heading up SAC and a certified wacko Gen Thom Powers second in command, had launch authority independent of the president.

    Parent

    Two points. Whether they make you (none / 0) (#53)
    by scribe on Wed May 08, 2013 at 02:26:28 PM EST
    feel better or not is up to you.

    1.  If the TV is to be believed, we all almost got blown up 3 or 4 different times in the second half of 1983.  Between a paranoid Soviet leadership believing Reagan's "the bombing will start in 15 minutes" and similar talk, a couple computer errors, deployment of the Pershing II and GLCM and Soviet belief that an exercise was the real thing, we came very, very close to not being here.

    In the computer error branch, Soviet early-warning satellites mistook sun reflections off cirrus clouds over the central US for the smoke trails from ICBMs.  Their computers ordered a launch, but the watch officer disobeyed them because the pattern of the launch was not the "all out" "launch 'em or lose 'em" of US doctrine, as he'd been taught in service schools.  He suspected a computer error and was broken out of the service for not obeying the computer.

    In the exercise branch, the Soviets believed a NATO exercise in the fall of 83 was the real thing.  They had their nuclear-strike aircrews briefed and in their aircraft, the aircraft loaded and idling on the ends of the airstrips, waiting for an order.  An East German spy inside NATO HQ had to go outside to use a phone to tell his contacts "it's only an exercise, it's over and all the participants have gone home", and the Warsaw Pact was only disabused of their belief to the contrary when nothing exploded.

    That was within a week or two of when "The Day After" aired on US TV.

    2.  As to LeMay, you should remember that at times during the Cold War - earlier rather than later - he had his SAC crews executing actual bomb runs over actual targets like Vladivostok, just for practice.

    So, Soviet paranoia was not ill-founded....

    Parent

    Sounds (none / 0) (#70)
    by lentinel on Thu May 09, 2013 at 08:58:02 PM EST
    like the "Dr. Strangelove" scenario.

    Too close for comfort.

    Parent

    I agree. (none / 0) (#51)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 08, 2013 at 01:00:36 PM EST


    your comments with (none / 0) (#69)
    by Jeralyn on Thu May 09, 2013 at 04:14:44 PM EST
    gossip about others being racist was deleted. Take that junk elsewhere.

    Parent
    Looks (none / 0) (#52)
    by lentinel on Wed May 08, 2013 at 01:01:25 PM EST
    like the cavemaster is about to OK the pipeline...

    It's the first hit in the google search. (none / 0) (#67)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu May 09, 2013 at 09:31:15 AM EST
    You can tell because all the words in the search are in the google result itself.

    Thinking about it, the last time I was aware of you being so stubborn was a while back when we were discussing a topic that, in the end, you explained was in your personal life hitting too close to home.

    With that I'm going to stop doing my part in continuing this kerfuffle and wish you the best.

    Tuesday Open Thread | 65 comments (65 topical)

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