Sunday, November 2, 2014
Rough month October
Monday, October 20, 2014
U.S. medical system and the insurance system are a rip-off!
The first one was a dermatologist to look at a small lump/bump that was on my forearm. It started out small but grew in size to that of a pea and stayed that size for a few weeks. I asked my oldest sister about it, she is a emergency room nurse, and she said it most likely was a calcium deposit and there was nothing to really worry about but if I wanted I should contact a dermatologist and they could take care of it. I found a dermatologist in my neighborhood made an appointment and when I finally got there the calcium deposit had started to reduce in size. The doctor took a look at it, poked it and asked me a few questions about it then finally said it was further under the skin and that she wouldn't want to do anything about it but recommended another doctor the whole process took all of fifteen minutes. I never followed up with the other doctor because it just kept reducing in size and eventually went away. I received a bill a month and a half later for $365.
The second visit was due in part to the fact that I still don't have a primary care physician which is another headache I don't even want to get into in this post. Anyway, I was running a fever of 102 so I went to the Brooklyn Hospital Emergency Room. I waited more then two hours in the ER lobby before I was escorted into an examination area where I sat for about another fifteen minutes. When I finally spoke with a medical professional it was all of ten minutes and was told it was just a cold and I should go home and rest. Well I've had plenty of colds and sore throats in my life but rarely have I had a temperature of 102 along with the sore throat and all the other symptoms so I felt it was something much worse. Well with little else in the way of options I did go home and spent pretty much an entire week in bed before whatever I had ran its course. Now here is where the the zinger comes; a month after all this went down I received a bill from the hospital for something like $1200 and I ignore it because I figure it is the first one and that after they deal with my insurance company it will end up being something like $300. A month and a half later I receive the next bill but instead of being lower it is actually the same and there is a warning that it must be paid in full within the next thirty days. So I start looking over the bill and here is another twist the original charge the hospital made to the insurance company was under $1000 but I later learned that the insurance company has a deal with the Hospital to pay a standard flat fee of $1200 for ER visits. So my thinking is they have spoken to the insurance company so why are they talking to me. I then decide to contact my insurance company to see what the hospital has sent them. After calling a few numbers and not getting anywhere I decide to use the online chat that the insurance company has on their website. The chat basically worked out like this; yes the hospital did contact us with ~$1000 bill, yes we negotiated that price up to $1200, you didn't meet your deductible so we don't pay this one and by the way the bill stays at the negotiated cost of $1200 and does not go back down to the below $1000. Thanks insurance company for costing me more.
So here is what I would like to find 1. an insurance company that no matter what the medical treatment is picks up anywhere from 75% to 80% of the cost leaving me the 25% to 20%. When I say 'medical treatment' I mean everything from dentist visits, to eye examinations, to wart/tattoo removal, to open heart surgery and all the way up to full body cloning! 2. hospitals, doctor's offices, medical clinics etc to have standard fees for standard procedures not changing the cost depending on what insurance company the patient has and what deals your organization has worked out with them already. I mean it seems to me that the medical and insurance companies have a a lot of say over people's lives and the treatment they receive instead of the people having that control.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
I don't understand women
Me: Mercury Lounge is at 217 E Houston St you would take the R to 34th then F to 2 Av and need to leave your place between 5:30-6 to make the show at 7 2:11 PM
+(carzy chic): Ok im in 2:17 PM
+(carzy chic): Ill be there by 630 2:18 PM
+(carzy chic): Just make sure u are lol 2:18 PM
Me: I'll be there at 6:30 for sure. Show will most likely be over by 10:30 at the latest. 2:24 PM
+(carzy chic): I haven't a curfew. .lol 2:34 PM
+(carzy chic): Do you want me to come? 2:47 PM
Me: Yes 2:48 PM
Me: And it is good to know you don't have a curfew 2:48 PM
+(carzy chic): Ok .. lol ill be there then 2:48 PM
+(carzy chic): Im taking a nap now 2:49 PM
Me: Have something to ho 5:21 PM
Me: ld you over till after the show because no food at Mercury lounge 5:22 PM
+(carzy chic): No I knew that. 5:23 PM
Me: Be careful walking 5:25 PM
+(carzy chic): Im getting in shower now. I will b e babe 5:28 PM
+(carzy chic): Im wearing what I wore ladt night since no one saw me. Is that ok for the show?? 6:00 PM
Me: You could go even more casual if you want but whatever u feel comfortable in 6:01 PM
Me: I'm wearing boots, jeans, long sleeve beer shirt, hoodie and vest 6:02 PM
Me: I'm leaving now, if I am not outside and it is after 7 I'll be inside 6:04 PM
+(carzy chic): Ok cool . Im leaving in 10 6:05 PM
Me: Dress for snow and wimd 6:14 PM
+(carzy chic): Yeah im dressing to look hot 6:17 PM
Me: No dress for snow. Seriously 6:18 PM
+(carzy chic): Ok 6:28 PM
Me: Thanks 6:31 PM
+(carzy chic): I still look hot though lol 6:32 PM
+(carzy chic): Holy shit scott its bad out 6:35 PM
Me: Kind of 6:36 PM
+(carzy chic): Kind of?? 6:36 PM
Me: Sort of? 6:37 PM
+(carzy chic): Its bad babbe 6:37 PM
+(carzy chic): Omg I just got a snow facial 6:38 PM
Me: Yeah best you stay in 6:38 PM
+(carzy chic): I agree but im all dressed 6:38 PM
+(carzy chic): Pick a bar after and ill cab it 6:39 PM
Me: Really! 6:39 PM
+(carzy chic): Yes really its bad out 6:40 PM
+(carzy chic): Im cabbing it 6:40 PM
+(carzy chic): Im a girl 6:46 PM
Me: The Library on 7th ave is the closest bar 6:48 PM
Me: But I'm questioning you coming out at all. 6:48 PM
Me: It is bad 6:49 PM
+(carzy chic): If you pay my cab ill come 6:50 PM
Me: I'll pay your cab but your not going to make the show 6:51 PM
+(carzy chic): Ok 6:52 PM
Me: Do you want me to text you when it is over and I will wait at the library for you or would you just want to meet me in DUMBO? 6:53 PM
+(carzy chic): Tell me 6:54 PM
Me: I still question even being in a cab 6:54 PM
+(carzy chic): Ill meet youin dumbo give me an address and time 6:55 PM
Me: I'll text you after the show with time address is either bridge and Plymouth streets or Jay St and something 6:56 PM
+(carzy chic): Ok cool give me an hour heads up so I can call a cab 6:59 PM
+(carzy chic): Ill be at your apt by 10 7:03 PM
Me: That might be to early, try for 10:30 or even 45 7:11 PM
+(carzy chic): Ok 7:12 PM
+(carzy chic): Im waiting on u 7:31 PM
+(carzy chic): Ill take a cab no prob 7:32 PM
+(carzy chic): Tell me when to leave 7:46 PM
+(carzy chic): Street address 7:47 PM
Me: Scandals, the band I really wanted to see, just finished but waiting for the Queers. 8:03 PM
Me: Queers up next 8:39 PM
Me: Am I paying for your cab to DUMBO? 8:39 PM
+(carzy chic): Yes in cab now 8:47 PM
+(carzy chic): Im coming to dumbo 8:49 PM
+(carzy chic): Babe pick b ip 9:01 PM
+(carzy chic): I cannot pay for this cab 9:01 PM
+(carzy chic): List4n douche bag im atvuour house 9:53 PM
+(carzy chic): You are such a douche bag 10:00 PM
+(carzy chic): Ifuckindespise v u 10:00 PM
Me: Show just finished 10:01 PM
+(carzy chic): Fuc k u dick 10:01 PM
+(carzy chic): Fuck u 10:01 PM
Me: So am I to take it that you don't want to see me 10:02 PM
+(carzy chic): Fuck u asshoke 10:02 PM
+(carzy chic): Fuck u 10:02 PM
Me: Not sure what brought this on 10:03 PM
Me: Leaving a rock show now 10:05 PM
+(carzy chic): Go fucking die 10:06 PM
+(carzy chic): I fuciking hate u 10:08 PM
+(carzy chic): Im sio pretty and you fucking blow 10:09 PM
Me: Really? What the fuck? I'm heading back to my place now 10:10 PM
+(carzy chic): Fjck u 10:12 PM
+(carzy chic): You blow 10:18 PM
+(carzy chic): You soo like to punish me... 10:33 PM
+(carzy chic): Go gu5ck off 10:33 PM
+(carzy chic): Fuck off 10:34 PM
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Random act of beerness
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Filming in the building
Are We Officially Dating? (2013) - IMDb
So the above movie is filming in my building for the next four or five days. They have taken over an apartment on the 4th floor as the set and another on the third as a green room. The only problem I've had so far is that they are leaving the doors to the building open including where I and the other tenants keep our bikes. Supposedly there is going to be some security but I haven't seen any yet which leads me to believe that I'll be asked to gain access to my own place and that it won't be my stuff that will be looked after. Have to see how it goes.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Android 4.2
Well it took some manual intervention on my part to get the update via OTA; had to go into Settings then Apps then All and select Google Services Framework where I had to clear the cache, force stop the app and finally clear the data before the update would install. I filed an issue with Google issue #39712 because a former coworker of mine from VMware who now works at Google sort of shamed me into filing it :) So far the only difference I really notice is the lock screen change, which isn't that exciting. I do want to see how the screen sharing feature works but need to find a TV that supports it. Since I use a Bluetooth keyboard I haven't really tried the gesture typing but I'm sure I will play with that over the next few days.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Comparing my Android devices' screens
next is the B&N Nook Color which I've rooted and do testing on it also currently has a small crack in the screen which I'm looking into fixing. The screen size is 7" with display of 600x1024 also running Cyanogenmod 7.2
and finally the Nexus 7 also with a 7" screen but display of 800x1280 and running Android 4.1.2 aka Jellybean
Needless to say the Nexus 7 is the best visual experience of all my devices and also the best performing but I hope it can last as long as my Nexus 1 has along with the abuse it has taken.