Sloved the energy shortage problem

[Richard]

I'm reading this thread late and don't want to step into TOO many mudholes. (I try to keep tempermental things to myself, lest I offend anyone) /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif So I'll offer a kind thought on something you said.

You said:

...reduced emissions by over 400%.

Though I understand your point, this phrase ALWAYS makes me chuckle just a bit.

Think it through, is it possible for you to take a 400% REDUCTION in pay? nope, for that would mean you are PAYING to work!

You can't "reduce" by any amount MORE than 100% from your reference point.


/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Again, not trying to "correct" or other, just highlighting what I perceive to be a common mistake.

Richard

 

[cowboydoc]

Richard,
That should have said 40%, sorry. I make alot of typos.

 

[WVBill]

Re: Solved the energy shortage problem

Bird:

Was that the "pay-it-yourself" price or the cut-rate insurance price? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Actually my wife's surgeries were probably in that range too (she had them both done a year apart). The $8K was just for the hospital - her surgeon and all his charges were on top of that.

Did your surgery give you back a good percentage of your hands? I ask because even a year later my wife says she's only at 75 - 80%. Of course, we think she waited too long - she got to where she couldn't even pick up a can of beans at times before she had the surgery.

 

[Bird]

Re: Solved the energy shortage problem

WVBill, I guess the $19,000 plus was the "pay-it-yourself" price. There was some discount to the insurance company because the doctor was on their "preferred provider" list, then after a $300 deductible, my insurance paid 70%. I don't remember for sure, but I think that got the total cost to me and the insurance down to about $15,000.

I think the doctor who did the job is good. My mother had one hand done by a different doctor who botched the job, then this doctor re-did it and she's had no problems since. He had also done both my youngest daughter's hands. I know quite a few people who've had the surgery and I don't think anyone gets back 100%, but I'd say 80-90%, and stopped the pain. I let mine go as long as possible and after not even going to bed for 3 months (dozed off and on in a recliner because of the pain at night), and when I wasn't able to sqeeze a little caulking gun trigger with both hands together, I decided it was time for surgery. I had the right hand done on 8/10/97 and wanted the other one done as soon as the stitches were removed. This doctor wants to wait a minimum of 3 months after doing one hand before he does the other; preferably 6 months, and I wanted it done 10 days later, so we compromised a little and he did the left hand on 9/3/97.

Bird

 

[Wingnut]

Re: Solved the energy shortage problem

thanks for the response, Cowboydoc. I still disagree with your contention that SUV's have little to do with the gas prices .... right now it's completely a supply and demand situation. I, too, watch the news (occassionally .... I find network TV far too liberal for my tastes) and tonight ole Socialist Rather grudgingly reported that average gas mileage was at it's lowest level siince the late 70's. People are not cutting back driving the gas guzzlers ... so the prices are not dropping ... and the STUPID EPA regs here in the Great Lakes region means that we get to pay more for crappy gas with additives on which we have no idea on the health or environment effects.
And refineries .... yeah ... they've been closing down. Probably nothing to do with a greenie EPA that shoves regulations so far down their throats that there's no way to ever meet them??
Sorry but I have a real hard time seeing the effects of high salaries to executive. First of all ... let's put it into perspective .... have the CEO's (there's only one per company) been getting the 12-15 million salary and bonus that the big 3 carmakers cxommonly get? Not that I've seen reported. And ... unless the oil companies are run differently than any other publically owned company ... the shareholders get to vote on salary and bonus increases.
Secondly ... let's talk some math here .... let's just say the Exxon CEO gets an extra $12 mill ... hmmm ... that's what .... 1/10,000 of a cent per gallon? I'm sorry ... I have a problem with the math. I know I choke when I see the CEO of the company I work for get a $4 mill bonus ... but ... when I figure that there are 45,000 employees and all of them got an average 10% bonus last year .... well, that adds up to a few "pennies" more than his bonus ... and when all those folks get bonuses ... they spend it and that's good for the economy .... much better than seeing a cash shortage ... too many layoffs.
What's the problem with holding CA hostage to high prices? Seems to me that they had the advantage of low prices ... governmentally dictated ... until they bankrupt the power companies. Why should outside power companies be forced to sell them power at Kalifornia's prices? When you go to buy medical supplies ... do you dictate what the prices will be? I wish THAT were the case ... 'cause then there's be none of these medicines that cost $10 to $100 a pill ...
I'm sorry, Richard, but I don't WANT to see Bush ... or any government get into price controls. IT has never worked ... not in the communist countries ... not in Canada ... and not here. Where's there's a vacuum (as in power creation right now) ... then capitalist will decide they can make a profit and will build plants. No ... that doesn't solve anything immediately ... because it takes years to build a plant .... but it MIGHT happen ... if they start removing some of the raodblocks to building plants. With the previous administration and the political climate ... why would any company have WANTED to build plants - electrical, refinery or other?
No, I said "go for it" as far as raising your prices ... because I have the same capability with food that I do with gas, enegy and the like. I can cut back, grow my own, change my eating habits ... until the marketplace again reaches equilibrium. There is a huge difference between NEED and WANT .... I need to eat ... but I don't need to eat Angus steaks ... or Johnsonville brats or whatever is expensive this week. And I don't need to drive across the state for entertainment ... and can ride my motorcycle to conserve gas and avoid using the pickup ... and mow my lawn less. Maybe I could conserve energy by using the air conditioner less or whatever .... I can cut my costs whenever I think I need to.
I've done enough travelling in Europe to know how much we're spoiled (on energy prices) over here ... and I, for one, have no intention of yelling about it ... I hit the oil companies in the wallet by not filling my tank, curtailing my driving and using the most energy efficient vehicle I have.
Lastly ... government isn't going to police big business ... big business provides the jobs that keeps the economy roilling and the excessive taxes rolling in ... and taxes are what spins the governments prayer wheels. Me ... I just wish they would retire all the corporate welfare so I could see what something really costs (like the previously mentioned chocolate bars) and decide if it's worth it.
... still enjoying the debate, Richard ... and I hope I'm not ruffling your feathers!


too bad that common sense ain't

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Solved the energy shortage problem

Wingnut,
Nope no ruffled feathers. I certainly don't know what all the answers are, just my opinions which I'll admit may be right or wrong. I know there's no easy answers to any of this. I just see things a little differently is all and that's ok on both sides. That's what keeps us centered is to have an opposite side to a belief and then hopefully where you meet in the middle is some common ground on both sides. I appreciate your comments and the debate. As my grandpa always said there's your side, there's my side and then there's the truth which is somewhere in the middle. Well time to go home and see my little girls which really is what matters. Have a good night.

 

[RichZ]

Re: Solved the energy shortage problem

Richard, I'm going way off topic now, but carpal tunnel syndrome has weeded its way into this thread. I work for the New York State Dept of Health, and used to be involved in hospital inspections, and I was told by a physical therapist, that alot of carpal tunnel is actually caused by a vitamin B-6 deficiency, and that taking B-6, starting a 100 mg a day, and increasing up to 500 mg slowly until relief is felt may actually reverse it. My father was supposed to have surgery, I suggested this to him, and at 400 mg a day, the symptoms went away. Since you're the only honest md I know in this specialty, I was wondoring what your opinion was on this. Sure wish I lived near you. (Bad knee!)
Rich

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Solved the energy shortage problem

Yes in some cases that can be true. Also alot of carpal tunnel is not carpal tunnel and is caused by an imbalance between the flexors and extensors. The body acts synergistically. Think of it as brakes and accelerators in a car. Most of what people that get carpal tunnel do involves using the flexors. Simply the flexors get tight and strong and the extensors get weak and stretched out. You have to strengthen the one and stretch the other. Combine this with some ultrasound, muscle work,nutrition, NSAID's and exercises and I cure alot of carpal tunnel without ever going to the knife. Unless it's really bad the tendon sheath is obliterated by repeated tendinitis and has reached Stage 6 then you can usually fix alot of them without surgery.

 

[Bird]

Re: Solved the energy shortage problem

Richard, I'm not sure I understand all that, but think I have the general idea. The doctor who did my carpal tunnel surgery sort of leaves it up the patient, but says he believes in surgery only as a last resort. I agreed, so we did try some other things first, but with no luck. The first time I ever even heard of carpal tunnel was in connection with the use of computer and typewriter keyboards, and in fact, my daughter's surgery was considered an "on the job" injury. However, the doctor also told me that some believe now that it may be hereditary, and I wouldn't argue with that since my mother, my daughter, and I have all had the surgery.

Bird

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Solved the energy shortage problem

Yea Bird it can be hereditary in that the carpal tunnel itself is congenitally narrow. The condition itself isn't hereditary but the predisposing factors to carpal tunnel syndrome are. Just like we see alot of hereditary degenerative disc disease and stensois in the spine.