Disqus - Latest Comments for WebPixie

Re: How to block the Windows 10 'recommended' update on Windows 7 and 8.1

WebPixie — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 15:27:03 -0000

I promise I won't tell you you're stupid for now knowing how to read an NMR spectrum if you promise not to tell everyone else they're stupid for not sharing your interest and expertise in CS. That seems to be the takeaway from your comment as I don't see that you had anything else to add to this discussion.

Getting back to the topic:
It appears that, so far, the Windows Updates to avoid if you run Windows 7 and you're not interested in installing Windows 10 are:
KB2952664
KB3021917
KB3035583
KB3123862

Re: Nikon P610 Review

WebPixie — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 03:08:04 -0000

Someone advised me to avoid cameras with electronic zoom because the circuit is prone to fatigue. Does anyone experience to support this?

Re: CenturyLink: Traps and Caps

WebPixie — Sat, 02 May 2015 17:52:06 -0000

CenturyLink internet service offerings vary greatly and seem to vary with the alternatives available to their customers. Now it appears that they won't even try to compete with superior alternatives, judging from your experience. You're very fortunate to have Comcast as an option! The only option in our area is satellite. CenturyLink, then CenturyTel, split off from our previous telco because they supposedly specialized in service to small markets. What a joke! The fastest speed available here is 0.576 Mbps. That's right - 0.5! They have no plans to upgrade and no alternatives to offer, as they have told me dozens of times over. I feel for the people who work in their DSL Escalations Team. It has to be a frustrating job to have to tell customers you'd love to help them but the company they work for will not let them.

Re: What Role Did Accused Soldier’s Brain Injury Play in Afghan Massacre? (UPDATED)

WebPixie — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:32:12 -0000

A "personality disorder" is a pre-existing condition, or something a person would have whether or not they ever had joined the military. No need to pay vet benefits for that! PTSD, on the other hand, is clearly service-connected and eligible for VA benefits. Sad.

Re: Don’t Let Lobbyists Automate the Health Care System!

WebPixie — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:04:19 -0000

NPR's Science Friday: "Electronic Medical Records (broadcast Friday, February 13th, 2009)" This might be interesting to hear, live or as podcast.

Link: [http://www.sciencefriday.co...]

Re: Don’t Let Lobbyists Automate the Health Care System!

WebPixie — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:53:12 -0000

It's so refreshing to read this perspective along with the post in your personal blog [http://is.gd/j8SX], Francine, where you discuss your thoughts while attending BIL.

I've worked at several hospitals and each has had its own EMR system full of bugs and quirks, except the system used by the VA Hospitals where I've worked. I'm not a Vet., so my med. records are kept on the bubblegum and bailing-wire systems kfanagan refers to in his comments. The headaches I've encountered recently are so exasperating that I feel like I'm being hung out to dry by our own family physician whom my husband and I have depended on for over 20 years.

In my heart, I know it's not his fault even if it doesn't FEEL that way. Hospitals in our area are going through an era of consolidation right now and, oh, what a mess! I wish there was room in a comment to share even half of the problems I've encountered in just the past two days.

The whole experience might be summed up by a comment made by a woman standing behind me in line at the doctor's office while I was waiting to have an order for a lab test entered into the computer...

She said she used to work in IT at the hospital that had just consolidated with the one my doctor had been affiliated with for the past 10 years or so. I commented that it seems that his system is designed specifically NOT to be able to communicate with the computer system at the "main hospital," as it's now called. She told me, "You're right, they're not. The hospital where I worked and his hospital used to be competitors."

YIKES!!! There's that type of cut-throat competition between hospitals that are in the "business" of the life or death care of human beings? No wonder there were so many inconsistencies (that looked like mistakes) in the records from the computer at my doctor's office! No wonder the records over at the "main hospital," that originated from my doctor's office, were just plain wrong! The idea to then have all this digital gibberish on the wide-open World-Wide-Web is not only frightening. It's downright dangerous.

I'm sorry if I sound like a luddite but, without the strict standards based on patient-controlled permissions, paper charts filled out by hand in triplicate with carbon paper would be superior to what I've encountered recently.

Commenter kflanagan has it right (imho): "As a patient/consumer, I really want to be able to take a CD from my current Dr, hand it off to a new Dr, and not get looked at as if I had 3 heads."

Re: Health Care IT: What’s Good for Consumers? What’s Government’s Role?

WebPixie — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:05:02 -0000

It strikes me that the PATIENT should have PRIMARY CONTROL over the information that's available to a physician or any other provider, for that matter.

It could be that this is something more applicable to women's health than men's typical health issues. Doctors are just as human as the rest of us and we all come with our own prejudices about things outside our personal experience. Some women's health issues are easily misinterpreted by others, no matter what their profession or specialty. Simple PMS isn't recognized by some health care providers. Enough said.

Bottom line, regardless of gender, it's the PHYSICIAN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO be able to BUILD THE TRUST of any patient in order to allow unrestricted permission to that patient's health records (imho).

Re: Why COBRA Doesn’t Work

WebPixie — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:19:45 -0000

I recently heard someone talking about paying for HIPAA after their COBRA coverage runs out. Perhaps it's because only because I worked in the health care field for so many years, but my impression was always that HIPAA is more about PRIVACY than anything else.

I had not heard it was a source for health insurance coverage than you can buy. Everything I've read abou it, outside first-hand knowledge of how it's implemented in health care settings, talks about protection of the privacy of a patient's health records.

I realize HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which seems to imply the availability of "portable" health insurance. Does anyone know any specifics about obtaining health insurance through the HIPAA law?

Re: Dear Eldest

WebPixie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:42:59 -0000

Most "local" VA's are HUNDREDS of miles away. My comment was certainly not intended to suggest the VA as any kind of medical resource for someone in "victim mode," as you describe it. That's not how it works.

The typical distance of most VA resources from the Vet is why I suggested having their PHONE NUMBER handy. That suggestion is really intended more as a resource for his girlfriend, if he chooses to live with her after the end of the month. It's not for the VA to provide "treatment."

Vets like to do what they can for other Vets, so the VA usually can cooridinate spouse's, girlfriends's, or boyfriend's of a Vet to those other Vets. As I said, it's very subtle and a person almost has to be a Vet to understand how it all works, which I am not.

From the actions described in your blog post, what you DID certainly IS the right thing. The rest is up to him and him alone.

Re: Dear Eldest

WebPixie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:15:11 -0000

Karoli, I regret not seeing this post until now. What a day you must've had! I realize it's no consolation to hear that your experience this morning has been shared by almost every family or friend in this nation (if not the world). I know I will never understand why it happens. All I know is that it does and that trying to understand why is really no help to the innocent family member (you) or the person playing the role of victim (your eldest).

I'm not so sure that you're being fair to yourself to say that you made a choice to look the other way. Sometimes trained, objective professionals can be fooled. How could someone with the emotional ties a mother has be expected to be so detached as to make that sort of deliberate choice! You can't.

It's great that he has a loving girlfriend ...maybe. I hope she has the number for the local VA. If there's one area where the VA has a long history of knowledge and experience, it's understanding the complexities of a former soldier's relationship with alcohol and how it affects their loved ones. While the VA may not be adequately funded to have enough staff to meet this mission for every Vet (thank you Mr. Rumsfeld), there are many organizations of Veterans who volunteer to fill that gap.

Richard and I have both seen how they work their magic. It's subtle, very subtle, and all it takes is a phone call - but let her make the call if he doesn't. You've already laid a solid foundation for him. His fellow Vets can help him build a good, strong floor. Please, do call me if there's anything I can do to help.

Re: mastering the 20 minute mile

WebPixie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:03:21 -0000

Your friends and followers are glad you write about your recovery here, speaking at least for this one. Sorry the JOMC/Calliflower email got so out of control Sunday. For some it was Calliflower email that caused problems. For others it was my attempts to keep ppl informed. Thankfully, Calliflower has a pretty great PM that's really helping us with the Ajax glitches and I'm trying to get a handle on my own hyperness with keeping folks informed via email.

You were (silently) missed when we got to the music discussion of the 'cast, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who hopes you will decide to join us at some later date. You're always welcome and I believe you know where to find me if you ever decide that you do want a JOMC invite (assuming the show continues beyond next week, that is).

Whether you ever decide to join the JOMC conversation or not, I'll still be looking in on you here at Bitterman Circle. Yours is one podcast hubby-o-mine has ever taken an interest in listening to ...even beyond that! He's asked to hear more of them. That's SAYING something. I believe you have a few more here that will keep him happy enough. My guess is that when he asks and I expect to find none, you will have posted a new one.

Hope the sun is smiling on you when you get this!

Re: Beware the Predator

WebPixie — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:34:42 -0000

Gorgeous bird!

Re: Bankruptcy Relief May Be On the Horizon

WebPixie — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:59:22 -0000

This is indeed promising news, depending on when and how it's implemented. If I'm not mistaken, though, I think bankruptcy laws vary to some extent from state to state.

It would help more people in the US become productive, once again, after a long illness or disability. That can only be a GOOD thing for the overall economy. It sometimes takes awhile but, sooner or later, people unable to work find themselves buried in the debt that builds faster and faster through the miracle of compound interest.

Great for those who hold the debt!

Devasting for the person who owes it while trying to get back on their feet following an unexpected health crisis. It's all the worse when the health crisis involves a long time for recovery.

I, as I expect many others, will be watching this space for news on THIS topic!

Re: The Fierce Urgency of Now Starts…NOW

WebPixie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:04:52 -0000

The Federal Employees Health Care Benefits plans have no exclusions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. The TOTAL cost for a family of any size is $1027.95/month, of which the employee pays $356.59. The family deductible is $250/year. Co-pays are $20/visit, and not counted toward the deductible. The deductible only applies to ER visits, experimental treatments, etc. Acupuncture is covered at 60% if done with an out-of-network provider or 80% if your acupuncturist doesn't mind filling out the government paperwork.

That's one of the more expensive plans.

Sounds a little better than $1300/month, maybe. I heard Obama propose it last year. I heard a Republican Senator from my state propose it maybe 10 years ago. Karoli, I believe you have more experience than most when it comes to understanding how insurance works. Maybe you can shed some light on why this type of insurance isn't available to the rest of us?

Re: Raised By Word-Eaters

WebPixie — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:44:26 -0000

Comtemplating what you write, Cliff, always elicits so many engaging ideas. From what I read of comments from other people, my comment here is nothing new. It just adds to and amplifies so many other voices. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with the rest of us.

Re: Health 2.0 Empowers You

WebPixie — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:22:40 -0000

You are so right, Sue! What we all need is the kind of health insurance available to Federal Employees. Better yet, the kind that members of Congress have available to them and their families.

Re: Health 2.0 Empowers You

WebPixie — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:59:55 -0000

The Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plans are excellent. The monthly premiums are affordable because there are dozens and dozens of plans and insurance companies to choose from. The insurance companies COMPETE for your business.

There are various levels of coverage to choose from, so you can choose the plan that best suits your needs: Low deductibles for things like ER visits and low co-pays for everything else. Also, there are no waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. Integrative health (acupuncture, etc.) is covered by some plans.

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that it's precisely the plan that Obama recommended (promised?) during the campaign. Let's hope he can make it happen!

Better yet...
Let's get together to HELP the new Administration and Congress MAKE it happen!

Re: I’m a Winner!

WebPixie — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:45:22 -0000

Congratulations!

Re: Batter my heart, three-person’d God

WebPixie — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:22:25 -0000

The same way as it is with any worthy art form, this segment from Dr. Atomic can be appreciated on many levels. The intent of the author is one, interpretations by the artists constitute another. The message of the director and treatment by the producers tie all of it together.

One's personal circumstances, and the circumstance of today's world - each is represented here and expressed in a way that seems to apply to only the one level of the viewer or listener. Production and direction make that possible, equal in every regard to the contribution of the artists, authors, and audience, the supporting staff, supervisors, and customers.

This piece serves almost as a prayerful way to begin one's day - with thanks, love, compassion in tragedy, and hope for rebirth and regeneration, followed by humbled thanks for love that permeates our world.

Thanks , Cliff. May the new week and the days to come be the start of something new and wonderful.

Re: Appeal for NRBQ’s Steve Ferguson

WebPixie — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:55:18 -0000

Another idea is this, Aron. The American Cancer Society, if it works the same way that its Children's counterpart does, coordiates donations from private donors to patients and families dealing with the challenges associated with battling cancer. Please encourage Steve's family to contact the American Cancer Society. That's why they exist. It's not only an agency that funds cancer research. It's also an agency that helps to fill in some of the gaps in the U.S, health care system.

Re: Appeal for NRBQ’s Steve Ferguson

WebPixie — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:42:38 -0000

"Steve Ferguson was the original guitar player with NRBQ (yup, before Big Al Anderson), was involved in Johnnie Johnson’s great album Johnnie B. Bad and has made great music for many years…"

And hence, Chuck Berry's legendary "Johnny B. Goode" (sp?) was launched literally into deep space. I'm sure it is no news to your readers that Johnny Johnson was the musician/songwriter/lyricist behind Chuck Berry's showmanship.

I would love to be able to contribute in a monetary way, Aron. I'm saddened by the fact that all I really do have of any value to offer his family, is information about how chemo and radiation may not mean "the end" and possible routes he and his family might be able to try to ameliorate the potential financial devastation. I don't claim to be an expert, by any means, but I can help answer their questions, help them ask questions, and guide them, hopefully, to some underutilized financial resources.

Please pass my contact info onto the Ferguson family, Aron. I would be happy to help in whatever way I can.
Thanks.

Re: Music of Politics: The Birth of Cool

WebPixie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:15:39 -0000

If only everyone who enjoys modal jazz could also embrace pragmatism in politics and economics.

It saddens me that some eloquent commenters on progressive blogs about economics may never see the correlation between their evolving tastes in music and the evolving nature of our economy. History may repeat itself in similarities but not necessarily in specifcs.

How sad it is that well-meaning, intelligent people who would truly enjoy this article and the accompanying music, may never see how they are part helping change progress or dragging it backwards. it IS an either/or proposition this time. This time, a protest vote just won't do.

Re: About

WebPixie — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 12:35:05 -0000

I've been trying to get Calliflower call set up since yesterday. I apparently need your email address for it to work. (At least I hope it will work.)

I hope you can join us! It will be called "Just One Conversation," assuming I get it to work.

Thanks,
WebPixie

Re: Paging Chicken Little - The Sky Isn’t Falling

WebPixie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:59:59 -0000

From one Pollyanna to another: It's not easy to see the downside, even when things are horribly tough and stressful. It seems that fear and worry only makes things worse because, ultimately, things always get better - somehow. We've seen some bad times and, most likely, there will always be more ahead. It helps to find ways to adapt and not expect things to always be the same through life.

Gee, why am I feeling so philosophical tonight? Hang in there, everybody ...As hardaway says, don't ignore realities but look for the good things around the corner.

Re: Tough times. Tough decisions.

WebPixie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:29:49 -0000

Absolutely agree with you, Francine! She's a lady who knows what she's talking about, Loic. Your service is fabulous. Trolls are never satisfied. The BEST they can do for you is just give you a splitting headache. Rock on! You will be able to hire all your people back, plus more, probably much sooner than you think.