Monday, April 23, 2007
Inspire Me
I can't think of anything to Mullserve. I know! I'm at a complete loss. So let's try something new: Submit some topics - keeping in mind the Lloyd Dobler Effect - and I'll see if I can muster up some Mullservations. Inspire me.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
That's SOME Hair!
This cracks me up, especially since one of the Faithful Two is from DeWitt.
Quad City barbers call Edwards' $400 haircut 'impossible'
By Bill Wundram Thursday, April 19, 2007
Quad City Times
Quad-City barbers put down their shears and sputtered words like “preposterous” and “impossible” Wednesday when they heard of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards spending $400 for a haircut. In the Quad-Cities, $10 or $12 is about average.
“If I charged $400 for a haircut, they’d come after me with white coats,” said Leo Fier, who has been cutting hair for 49 years at his shop in DeWitt, Iowa.
Edwards’ campaign committee filed a financial report with the Federal Election Commission noting that the White House hopeful paid $400 for haircuts in California and New Hampshire, and $248 for salon services in Dubuque, Iowa.
“That’s impossible, $400,” said Don “Dutchman” Braafhart, who runs Dutchman’s Barbershop in Davenport.
Next time he’s in town, Edwards would get a real bargain at Davenport Barber College, where supervised student barbers charge only $7.50.Even some Quad-Citians who allow their locks to grow long are shocked by a $400 haircut.
“My Santa Claus long hair is my trademark,” said Terry Lunardi, Davenport restaurateur. “I just had my hair cut Monday for $10. And I have a lot of hair to cut.”
Kurt Ullrich, a Scott County deputy auditor whose hair runs long, said, “Edwards and I are of a similar age and I took note of his hair when I visited briefly with him in Davenport. His hair is thick, full and beautifully coiffed, whereas mine is counter-culture long. Sixteen dollars is the most I’ve ever paid for a haircut.”
There are a few Quad-City shops that rise above the $10 average. A man’s haircut may range from $18 to $42 at some specialty salons. Operators at two of those shops said they would welcome Edwards, and not charge his campaign $400.A barbaric price for cutting hair may not be unusual. Jay Ledford, who runs Cut Rite, Moline, with his dad, Jay Sr., insists that a number of years ago, President Clinton had his hair cut in Davenport. “I can’t remember the barber, but he only charged him $150,” Ledford said.
Quad City barbers call Edwards' $400 haircut 'impossible'
By Bill Wundram Thursday, April 19, 2007
Quad City Times
Quad-City barbers put down their shears and sputtered words like “preposterous” and “impossible” Wednesday when they heard of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards spending $400 for a haircut. In the Quad-Cities, $10 or $12 is about average.
“If I charged $400 for a haircut, they’d come after me with white coats,” said Leo Fier, who has been cutting hair for 49 years at his shop in DeWitt, Iowa.
Edwards’ campaign committee filed a financial report with the Federal Election Commission noting that the White House hopeful paid $400 for haircuts in California and New Hampshire, and $248 for salon services in Dubuque, Iowa.
“That’s impossible, $400,” said Don “Dutchman” Braafhart, who runs Dutchman’s Barbershop in Davenport.
Next time he’s in town, Edwards would get a real bargain at Davenport Barber College, where supervised student barbers charge only $7.50.Even some Quad-Citians who allow their locks to grow long are shocked by a $400 haircut.
“My Santa Claus long hair is my trademark,” said Terry Lunardi, Davenport restaurateur. “I just had my hair cut Monday for $10. And I have a lot of hair to cut.”
Kurt Ullrich, a Scott County deputy auditor whose hair runs long, said, “Edwards and I are of a similar age and I took note of his hair when I visited briefly with him in Davenport. His hair is thick, full and beautifully coiffed, whereas mine is counter-culture long. Sixteen dollars is the most I’ve ever paid for a haircut.”
There are a few Quad-City shops that rise above the $10 average. A man’s haircut may range from $18 to $42 at some specialty salons. Operators at two of those shops said they would welcome Edwards, and not charge his campaign $400.A barbaric price for cutting hair may not be unusual. Jay Ledford, who runs Cut Rite, Moline, with his dad, Jay Sr., insists that a number of years ago, President Clinton had his hair cut in Davenport. “I can’t remember the barber, but he only charged him $150,” Ledford said.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
The Fourth State of Matter
I was a sophomore at the University of Iowa on November 1, 1991. It was a cold, gray Friday. I remember sleet, then soft snow. It was All Saint's Day. My last class concluded at 3:30. Mass wasn't until 5:00, so I trudged home to find a few minutes of warmth and rest. Past Van Allen Hall, around the corner and past Phillips Hall, then north up Clinton Street to number 521. And the snow kept falling.
On that day at 3:42 p.m., Gang Lu, a graduate student in physics, shot and killed 5 people, including 4 faculty members of the U of I Department of Physics.
I've always admired an essay written by Jo An Beard called The Fourth State of Matter in which she shares her personal loss and recollection of the day.
On that day at 3:42 p.m., Gang Lu, a graduate student in physics, shot and killed 5 people, including 4 faculty members of the U of I Department of Physics.
I've always admired an essay written by Jo An Beard called The Fourth State of Matter in which she shares her personal loss and recollection of the day.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The Lloyd Dobler Effect
Lloyd Dobler knew exactly what he didn't want to do with his life. He didn't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. He didn't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, he didn't want to do that.
Despite the pressure of dating a pretty, overachieving, fellowship winning, speechifying valedictorian with a disapproving father, he held steady and set his sights on what he excelled at: spending time with Diane, the speechifying valedictorian, and kick boxing. I loved that about Lloyd.
Here's where I'm going with this: "I'm not going to form an opinion on every mind numbing event and issue covered by the mind numbing American media machine. I don't want to write, talk or speculate on them. I don't want to write about what someone else has written. I don't want to talk about topics discussed on talk radio and I don't want to speculate on what people mean when they write and talk about mind numbing events and issues. You know, as an amateurish amateur blogger and a regular person, I don't want to do that."
So here's a list of topics that I'm not going to write, talk or speculate on:
1. Don Imus and the general question of what constitutes an acceptable apology or act of contrition these days.
2. Sanjaya: His hair, singing ability, conspiracies, teeny boppers, and the general media obsession with the kid and his potential to bring down American Idol. Oh, and I'm not going to write about all the brain power, time and manpower that has been devoted to covering the "story" that is Sanjaya.
3. The religious right evangelical crazies and how they've co-opted Christianity (hat tip The Tontine's Des Moines Outpost) and the party of Lincoln and Reagan. I'm bothered, but I'm waiting for my personal savior to fill me with the spirit. Get your blood going with that one? Good. Now you know how I feel.
4. The never ending search for a new University of Iowa president.
5. The fact that it took the University of Iowa less than a week to find a new men's basketball coach, but six months later there's still no University president.
I'm tired and more than a little cynical this evening, so it's probably best that I wrap it up before I write or speculate on something I don't care about.
Despite the pressure of dating a pretty, overachieving, fellowship winning, speechifying valedictorian with a disapproving father, he held steady and set his sights on what he excelled at: spending time with Diane, the speechifying valedictorian, and kick boxing. I loved that about Lloyd.
Here's where I'm going with this: "I'm not going to form an opinion on every mind numbing event and issue covered by the mind numbing American media machine. I don't want to write, talk or speculate on them. I don't want to write about what someone else has written. I don't want to talk about topics discussed on talk radio and I don't want to speculate on what people mean when they write and talk about mind numbing events and issues. You know, as an amateurish amateur blogger and a regular person, I don't want to do that."
So here's a list of topics that I'm not going to write, talk or speculate on:
1. Don Imus and the general question of what constitutes an acceptable apology or act of contrition these days.
2. Sanjaya: His hair, singing ability, conspiracies, teeny boppers, and the general media obsession with the kid and his potential to bring down American Idol. Oh, and I'm not going to write about all the brain power, time and manpower that has been devoted to covering the "story" that is Sanjaya.
3. The religious right evangelical crazies and how they've co-opted Christianity (hat tip The Tontine's Des Moines Outpost) and the party of Lincoln and Reagan. I'm bothered, but I'm waiting for my personal savior to fill me with the spirit. Get your blood going with that one? Good. Now you know how I feel.
4. The never ending search for a new University of Iowa president.
5. The fact that it took the University of Iowa less than a week to find a new men's basketball coach, but six months later there's still no University president.
I'm tired and more than a little cynical this evening, so it's probably best that I wrap it up before I write or speculate on something I don't care about.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Iowan Masters Augusta!
Iowa's Johnson wins Masters! Augusta, Ga. — Iowa’s Zach Johnson stunned the golf world today by winning the Masters.J ohnson, the ex-Drake golfer from Cedar Rapids, tamed Augusta National Golf Club with a birdie binge on the final six holes to finish at 1-over for the tournament.
On CBS, Johnson was fitted for the fabled green jacket by 2006 champion Phil Mickelson in legendary Butler Cabin. "I can't put it into words," Johnson said.
Johnson said with a cracking voice as he talked with CBS near the 18th green that the victory meant even more on Easter, as he credited Jesus and his late grandfather for helping him steel nerves. "I'm (just) a Midwest guy from Iowa," Johnson said during the Butler Cabin interview on TV. CBS announcer Jim Nantz responded: "You made Iowa proud today — that's for sure."
On CBS, Johnson was fitted for the fabled green jacket by 2006 champion Phil Mickelson in legendary Butler Cabin. "I can't put it into words," Johnson said.
Johnson said with a cracking voice as he talked with CBS near the 18th green that the victory meant even more on Easter, as he credited Jesus and his late grandfather for helping him steel nerves. "I'm (just) a Midwest guy from Iowa," Johnson said during the Butler Cabin interview on TV. CBS announcer Jim Nantz responded: "You made Iowa proud today — that's for sure."
Friday, April 06, 2007
Investigating Nonprofit Hospitals
"We need to get a better handle on how nonprofit hospitals are fulfilling their requirement to serve the community in exchange for the generous tax breaks they receive. This is especially important as policymakers talk about helping the uninsured." So says the senior senator from Iowa in the article embedded below.
Talk. That's all policymakers seem to do when it comes to "helping the uninsured." Meanwhile it's the hospitals - the nonprofit hospitals - that actually confront the issue on a day-to-day basis. So yes, please expend taxpayers dollars to investigate those sketchy nonprofit hospitals and make sure the people are getting their money's worth. OR, actually spend some time in a hospital and see how the people's government fails nonprofit hospitals - and the American taxpayer - time and time again. How? Allow me to share a few examples:
1. Medicaid: The federal government cedes to the states all responsibility for setting Medicaid reimbursement rates. No guidelines, not even broad ones, from a federal government that in FY 2006 spent $180.6 billion in taxpayer dollars on the program. Why is this a problem? Medicaid reimbursement rates fall far below Medicare rates. As a national average, Medicaid pays only 69% of what Medicare pays for the same service. Even with add-ons such as Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, which Congress is always trying to revoke, reduce or repurpose, Medicaid still fails to cover costs. Where's the accountability? Where's the federal oversight?
Do you know what happens when Medicaid reimbursement rates are so low that it becomes cost-prohibitive for physicians to participate in the program? Reduced access to care. Know what happens next? Here's an example: A 12 year old boy from Prince George's County, Maryland, died in February from a brain infection caused by an abscessed tooth. From a homeless family on Medicaid, he didn't have timely access to a dentist.
2. EMTALA: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. Originally promulgated to combat the discriminatory practice of some hospitals transferring, discharging or refusing to treat indigent patients coming to the emergency department, it is an important and necessary law. However, the Emergency Department is now the primary care provider for the indigent and uninsured...and undocumented. Because the federal government fails to secure the borders, hospitals are bending under the weight of caring for the influx of illegal aliens. Who pays? Well, either the American taxpayer or the hospital. Charity care is a requirement of tax exempt status. From my perspective, however, it is not the hospital's responsibility to provide free care to illegal aliens on the backs of the American taxpayer.
3. Cost Shifting: It's the American taxpayer who ultimately suffers when the federal government shirks its responsibility for enforcing current law and appropriately managing the health care programs it created. So Medicaid reimbursement rates are low. Don't hospitals just negotiate higher reimbursement rates with private third party payers to make up the difference? Of course! And who pays? Yep. You got it. The American taxpayer...but not in taxes. In earned income! Private health insurance deductibles and copayments increase...I call it the Water Balloon Effect. When one side is squeezed, the other side expands.
I'm not naive enough to believe that there aren't hospitals out there that deserve intense scrutiny. Tax exempt status is a privilege to be earned, not a right to be abused. Hospitals are only as good as the people who work in them and the leadership that guides them. The same is true of our government. So where's the scrutiny? It's a lot easier to point a finger. The thing is, when you point a finger, there are three fingers pointing right back at you.
Gra_ _ley: Investigate Nonprofit Hospitals
By TONY LEYS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
April 6, 2007
Add comment
U.S. Sen. Charles E. Gra_ _ley wants federal investigators to find out whether nonprofit hospitals deserve the billions of dollars they receive in tax exemptions.
The Iowa Republican sent a letter Thursday to the Government Accountability Office, asking for a broad investigation into the issue. "We need to get a better handle on how nonprofit hospitals are fulfilling their requirement to serve the community in exchange for the generous tax breaks they receive," Gra_ _ley said in a news release. "This is especially important as policymakers talk about helping the uninsured."
Many hospitals, including almost all in Iowa, are defined as charities. They are exempt from most taxes on property and income. Critics say many hospitals fail to earn those exemptions. Hospital supporters say they provide many benefits, including billions of dollars of charity care and care for patients on Medicaid, which does not cover all costs. In Des Moines and some other parts of Iowa, hospitals recently sweetened their charity-care policies and vowed to ensure all patients know about aid programs.
Alicia Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the American Hospital Association, said her group supports standardizing community-benefits reports so the public could compare hospitals against each other. "Hospitals have good stories to share about the benefits they provide to the community," she said. Gra_ _ley noted in his request that the Internal Revenue Service used to have specific charity-care requirements, but he said those were abolished in 1969. The senator also asked the GAO to investigate compensation of executives and board members at nonprofit hospitals. I n 2005, he wrote to 10 major nonprofit hospitals around the country, asking for justification of their tax-exempt status. None of those hospitals was in Iowa.
Gra_ _ley is the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees health care issues and taxation.
Talk. That's all policymakers seem to do when it comes to "helping the uninsured." Meanwhile it's the hospitals - the nonprofit hospitals - that actually confront the issue on a day-to-day basis. So yes, please expend taxpayers dollars to investigate those sketchy nonprofit hospitals and make sure the people are getting their money's worth. OR, actually spend some time in a hospital and see how the people's government fails nonprofit hospitals - and the American taxpayer - time and time again. How? Allow me to share a few examples:
1. Medicaid: The federal government cedes to the states all responsibility for setting Medicaid reimbursement rates. No guidelines, not even broad ones, from a federal government that in FY 2006 spent $180.6 billion in taxpayer dollars on the program. Why is this a problem? Medicaid reimbursement rates fall far below Medicare rates. As a national average, Medicaid pays only 69% of what Medicare pays for the same service. Even with add-ons such as Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, which Congress is always trying to revoke, reduce or repurpose, Medicaid still fails to cover costs. Where's the accountability? Where's the federal oversight?
Do you know what happens when Medicaid reimbursement rates are so low that it becomes cost-prohibitive for physicians to participate in the program? Reduced access to care. Know what happens next? Here's an example: A 12 year old boy from Prince George's County, Maryland, died in February from a brain infection caused by an abscessed tooth. From a homeless family on Medicaid, he didn't have timely access to a dentist.
2. EMTALA: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. Originally promulgated to combat the discriminatory practice of some hospitals transferring, discharging or refusing to treat indigent patients coming to the emergency department, it is an important and necessary law. However, the Emergency Department is now the primary care provider for the indigent and uninsured...and undocumented. Because the federal government fails to secure the borders, hospitals are bending under the weight of caring for the influx of illegal aliens. Who pays? Well, either the American taxpayer or the hospital. Charity care is a requirement of tax exempt status. From my perspective, however, it is not the hospital's responsibility to provide free care to illegal aliens on the backs of the American taxpayer.
3. Cost Shifting: It's the American taxpayer who ultimately suffers when the federal government shirks its responsibility for enforcing current law and appropriately managing the health care programs it created. So Medicaid reimbursement rates are low. Don't hospitals just negotiate higher reimbursement rates with private third party payers to make up the difference? Of course! And who pays? Yep. You got it. The American taxpayer...but not in taxes. In earned income! Private health insurance deductibles and copayments increase...I call it the Water Balloon Effect. When one side is squeezed, the other side expands.
I'm not naive enough to believe that there aren't hospitals out there that deserve intense scrutiny. Tax exempt status is a privilege to be earned, not a right to be abused. Hospitals are only as good as the people who work in them and the leadership that guides them. The same is true of our government. So where's the scrutiny? It's a lot easier to point a finger. The thing is, when you point a finger, there are three fingers pointing right back at you.
Gra_ _ley: Investigate Nonprofit Hospitals
By TONY LEYS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
April 6, 2007
Add comment
U.S. Sen. Charles E. Gra_ _ley wants federal investigators to find out whether nonprofit hospitals deserve the billions of dollars they receive in tax exemptions.
The Iowa Republican sent a letter Thursday to the Government Accountability Office, asking for a broad investigation into the issue. "We need to get a better handle on how nonprofit hospitals are fulfilling their requirement to serve the community in exchange for the generous tax breaks they receive," Gra_ _ley said in a news release. "This is especially important as policymakers talk about helping the uninsured."
Many hospitals, including almost all in Iowa, are defined as charities. They are exempt from most taxes on property and income. Critics say many hospitals fail to earn those exemptions. Hospital supporters say they provide many benefits, including billions of dollars of charity care and care for patients on Medicaid, which does not cover all costs. In Des Moines and some other parts of Iowa, hospitals recently sweetened their charity-care policies and vowed to ensure all patients know about aid programs.
Alicia Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the American Hospital Association, said her group supports standardizing community-benefits reports so the public could compare hospitals against each other. "Hospitals have good stories to share about the benefits they provide to the community," she said. Gra_ _ley noted in his request that the Internal Revenue Service used to have specific charity-care requirements, but he said those were abolished in 1969. The senator also asked the GAO to investigate compensation of executives and board members at nonprofit hospitals. I n 2005, he wrote to 10 major nonprofit hospitals around the country, asking for justification of their tax-exempt status. None of those hospitals was in Iowa.
Gra_ _ley is the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees health care issues and taxation.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Madam Syriana
Bentpinky Photo of the Day"I hope the Syrians like me. I'm sure they'll at least
respect me for being such a powerful and important woman."
respect me for being such a powerful and important woman."
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