The longest thread ever

[devildeac]

That's what every post needs: more emoticons! (Or is that, more cowbell? )

both...

[devildeac]

At the risk of bumping us to the Main Board, I noticed that the UConn women beat the UNC women. From here we go to Great Moral Dilemma: what do we wish for the outcome of this particular matchup? Personally, I don't want to see either team win. Whoever wins, I'm bummed because they won. There's no positive outcome that I can see. Do the rest of you have this same problem?

Old bumper sticker:

I have 2 favorite teams: Duke and whoever is playing unc

Can't get much more clear than that.

[devildeac]

Dangerous combination today:

Office closed.

Lots of caffeine-rich beverages.

Lots of unread journals,

Unfettered access to the DBR.

[Fish80]

Dangerous combination today:

Office closed.

Lots of caffeine-rich beverages.

Lots of unread journals,

Unfettered access to the DBR.

Unfettered!

[TillyGalore]

Dangerous combination today:

Office closed.

Lots of caffeine-rich beverages.

Lots of unread journals,

Unfettered access to the DBR.

Just caffeine-rich beverages? Nothing else?

[ArkieDukie]

Dangerous combination today:

Office closed.

Lots of caffeine-rich beverages.

Lots of unread journals,

Unfettered access to the DBR.

True that. My office is not closed, but I'm working from home today on a big grant that has to go out later this week. I'm taking hourly breaks from reading and writing to check out the LTE.

[ArkieDukie]

Just caffeine-rich beverages? Nothing else?

Tilly, you make a good point here. Devildeac, can we expect to see some new reviews of a certain beverage in a certain thread today?

[Fish80]

I keep honey in my office. For some reason, this jar of honey is getting thick and opaque. I thought honey never went bad. But I've noticed this once or twice before on other jars.

Is the funky honey still okay to use?

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I keep honey in my office. For some reason, this jar of honey is getting thick and opaque. I thought honey never went bad. But I've noticed this once or twice before on other jars.

Is the funky honey still okay to use?

It should be, but you might want to put the jar in hot water to liquify the top stuff before using it.

[DukePA]

DukePA, please don't hate. Feel the love.

IMHO, it's irrational to hate insurance companies. I can understand hating a particular insurance company for some perceived injustice. And some companies don't behave ethically. But painting all insurance companies with the same brush of hate is a bit extreme. Many of them provide a valuable service.

Somewhere along the way, many people got the mistaken idea that insurance companies should pay for everything claimed, and that they should only charge a de minimis premium. Insurance is just a giant transfer mechanism. A bunch of people pay premiums so that a few can be covered for losses.

The contract defines what is covered. How much the insurance company charges is based on the terms of that contract. We can usually purchase more comprehensive coverage at a higher premium.

I certainly don't know the terms of Lavabe's policy, and so I'm not in a position to judge whether his water damage should be covered or not. I sympathize with his predicament and wish he could be reimbursed by his insurance company for the water company. But we really need to examine the terms of his contracts to know whether or not the damage should be covered.

Okay, sorry for venting. I'll get off my soap box now.

You're right and I usually don't hate. Guess that was my version of venting. I actually have a great auto insurance company. It's USAA. They're not-for-profit and are very fair. They actually do what they promise and don't treat me like a criminal if I file a claim. Medical insurance, on the other hand is a different story. I used to work for a third party administrator many years ago and was constantly discouraged by the insurance company acting in what I considered to be bad faith and doing everything they could not to uphold their part of the contracts held with their clients. I know there are great insurance companies out there and I don't really hate them all. Just an immature moment on my part

[DevilAlumna]

Is there anyone else out there watching the Inauguration? I lovelovelove this event. Not just because the guy I was rooting for won, but just for the symbolic nature of the transition of power, and all the pomp and ritual surrounding.

The National Mall is the most crowded I've *ever* seen it - even the side streets are packed! CNN was saying the powers that be are going to get a satellite picture from space to do crowd estimates. They were also saying that this will be the most-watched televised event, ever, in the history of television. The world really is watching.

[Fish80]

You're right and I usually don't hate. Guess that was my version of venting. I actually have a great auto insurance company. It's USAA. They're not-for-profit and are very fair. They actually do what they promise and don't treat me like a criminal if I file a claim. Medical insurance, on the other hand is a different story. I used to work for a third party administrator many years ago and was constantly discouraged by the insurance company acting in what I considered to be bad faith and doing everything they could not to uphold their part of the contracts held with their clients. I know there are great insurance companies out there and I don't really hate them all. Just an immature moment on my part

No worries. I save my hate for the wrong shade of blue.

I too have USAA for auto, home, and life insurance. My experience with them has been very positive.

Health insurance is a complicated mess. I wish we could simplify the entire system. At the risk of straying to the PPB, I think a big part of the problem is that we want and use more services than we want to pay for. The other big part of the problem is inefficiencies, greed, and corruption.

Uh oh, here I go again . . .

[devildeac]

Just caffeine-rich beverages? Nothing else?

It was 956AM when I posted that...

However, later today...

[OZZIE4DUKE]

At the risk of straying to the PPB, I think a big part of the problem is that we want and use more services than we want to pay for. The other big part of the problem is

The other big problem is doctors order or perform tests that aren't needed in order to protect themselves from malpractice suits. Patients seem to think that doctors should be perfect and God-like. Sorry, they are only human and sick people often die due to no fault of the doctor or hospital. </end rant

[devildeac]

Tilly, you make a good point here. Devildeac, can we expect to see some new reviews of a certain beverage in a certain thread today?

I have a couple new ones to review from last week and a 4 year old barleywine I enjoyed last PM that is begging to be recognized.

[devildeac]

It should be, but you might want to put the jar in hot water to liquify the top stuff before using it.

A few seconds in the microwave on low heat would work, too.

[devildeac]

The other big problem is doctors order or perform tests that aren't needed in order to protect themselves from malpractice suits. Patients seem to think that doctors should be perfect and God-like. Sorry, they are only human and sick people often die due to no fault of the doctor or hospital. </end rant

This is a very interesting and complex topic and any further discussion from my perspective would certainly have it moved to the PPB and I don't venture there very often.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

This is a very interesting and complex topic and any further discussion from my perspective would certainly have it moved to the PPB and I don't venture there very often.

Neither do I and I'm not a doctor, so I have nothing more to say on the subject, either here or on the PPB.

[Lavabe]

No worries. I save my hate for the wrong shade of blue.

I too have USAA for auto, home, and life insurance. My experience with them has been very positive.

Health insurance is a complicated mess. I wish we could simplify the entire system. At the risk of straying to the PPB, I think a big part of the problem is that we want and use more services than we want to pay for. The other big part of the problem is inefficiencies, greed, and corruption.

Uh oh, here I go again . . .

I must admit... the use of emoticons is a very good thing.

Is Ymo paying attention?

[Fish80]

Neither do I and I'm not a doctor, so I have nothing more to say on the subject, either here or on the PPB.

It's all Lavabe's fault, if only he hadn't busted his pipe!

On House last night, Dr. House had a broken pipe that wasn't covered by insurance.

I won't give away the ending, but it was funny and timely.

One more bonus emoticon: