Turning up the...coolness
Hello everybody as America gets its last slices of our birthday cake from last week...and trying to find the nicest shade possible while at it!
Before I begin...usually around the Fourth of July, I would do my annual "Fill In The Blank" quiz which has been a staple since 1995 (and 2000 online). Because I couldn't think up of any questions, I've decided to save FITB for the "Year In Review" in December. I apologize for the inconvience.
Now then...as we blew out the candles for the 231st time last Wednesday, the Western part of the country has had natural fireworks of their own. Temperatures have hovered between 100 and 110 degrees, and there's still no end in sight as the heatwave will now be heading East.
But over the weekend, millions have found the best way to stay cool by going to the movies. "Transformers" may have opened at the top with $67 million ($152 million if you count the preview screenings since Monday), but I decided to go see a far real film: "Sicko", the new documentary by Michael Moore.
Yes, the guy behind "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" is at it again; the target this time? The health care system in the United States and its corruption that led to many of us heading to Canada or even Europe for better services.
The film started with the story of a man who accidentally sawed the tops of his middle and ring fingers while working in his garage. With no insurance, the hospital gave him two options: Reattach his middle finger for $60,000, or the ring finger for a measly $12,000. He chose the ring finger, while the middle end is now at a landfill.
But let's flash forward to the differences between the American and Canadian health care systems. The waiting lines on some larger hospitals, particularly in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver may last for hours, while drugs are somewhat cheaper because of the Canadian Dollar.
And then there's Europe, mostly in Great Britain and France. Britain's universal health care system is the National Health Service, or NHS; while France has a 24-hour house-call service. That latter is kinda like a throwback to the old days when you're bed-ridden and had to call your doctor to come by your house.
The last scene takes us to Cuba, where a few 9/11 rescue workers got better treatment after our government denied to pay for their care. And best of all: IT WAS FREE!!! Yeah, take a 90-minute boat ride from Miami to Communist Cuba for free health care!
I can't imagine why Britain has a universal health care system like the NHS and the United States don't. Possibly because providers like Aetna, CIGNA, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield have all been in bed with the politicians for years, and that's making a lot of us sick.
What we need right now is a complete, head-to-toe overhaul of the U.S. health care system. That may mean some free services, especially for those in Rural Alaska communities where they can't have access to our hospitals in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Oh yeah, not to mention bi-annual physicals.
Speaking of which...the last time I got my physical years ago, my cholesterol count was 79. I wouldn't be surprised if it has doubled since then. And with everything out of the way, so long and stay strong...and healthy!
Before I begin...usually around the Fourth of July, I would do my annual "Fill In The Blank" quiz which has been a staple since 1995 (and 2000 online). Because I couldn't think up of any questions, I've decided to save FITB for the "Year In Review" in December. I apologize for the inconvience.
Now then...as we blew out the candles for the 231st time last Wednesday, the Western part of the country has had natural fireworks of their own. Temperatures have hovered between 100 and 110 degrees, and there's still no end in sight as the heatwave will now be heading East.
But over the weekend, millions have found the best way to stay cool by going to the movies. "Transformers" may have opened at the top with $67 million ($152 million if you count the preview screenings since Monday), but I decided to go see a far real film: "Sicko", the new documentary by Michael Moore.
Yes, the guy behind "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" is at it again; the target this time? The health care system in the United States and its corruption that led to many of us heading to Canada or even Europe for better services.
The film started with the story of a man who accidentally sawed the tops of his middle and ring fingers while working in his garage. With no insurance, the hospital gave him two options: Reattach his middle finger for $60,000, or the ring finger for a measly $12,000. He chose the ring finger, while the middle end is now at a landfill.
But let's flash forward to the differences between the American and Canadian health care systems. The waiting lines on some larger hospitals, particularly in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver may last for hours, while drugs are somewhat cheaper because of the Canadian Dollar.
And then there's Europe, mostly in Great Britain and France. Britain's universal health care system is the National Health Service, or NHS; while France has a 24-hour house-call service. That latter is kinda like a throwback to the old days when you're bed-ridden and had to call your doctor to come by your house.
The last scene takes us to Cuba, where a few 9/11 rescue workers got better treatment after our government denied to pay for their care. And best of all: IT WAS FREE!!! Yeah, take a 90-minute boat ride from Miami to Communist Cuba for free health care!
I can't imagine why Britain has a universal health care system like the NHS and the United States don't. Possibly because providers like Aetna, CIGNA, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield have all been in bed with the politicians for years, and that's making a lot of us sick.
What we need right now is a complete, head-to-toe overhaul of the U.S. health care system. That may mean some free services, especially for those in Rural Alaska communities where they can't have access to our hospitals in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Oh yeah, not to mention bi-annual physicals.
Speaking of which...the last time I got my physical years ago, my cholesterol count was 79. I wouldn't be surprised if it has doubled since then. And with everything out of the way, so long and stay strong...and healthy!
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