Small Comfort

At Officer Jonathan Diller's funeral today, the New York City police commissioner promoted him to Detective.

I've seen this done before for officers slain in the line of duty. It is a kind gesture, an honor well deserved by the murdered officer, but honestly--does it help all that much?

Stephanie Diller, the young widow left to raise a one-year-old baby alone, is bereft of her husband. His infant son will know his father only by photos, stories, and a shiny new detective's badge that bears his own birthdate. This baby boy will never benefit from his father's loving presence as he grows up. 

There is plenty of blame to go around at every level of New York leadership for this tragic circumstance, but I'll leave it at that. Rest in peace, Officer Diller. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Posthumous Detective badge for Officer Jonathan Diller

The Happiness Problem

California is widely noted for, among many other things of dubious worth, ridiculous government.

However, the Golden State may have outdone its own outlandishness. The California Assembly has created a new committee to explore ways to make people happy. Yes, I'll wait while you read that again. The Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes wants Californians to be "happy."

This news makes me very sad. I can't think of anything I want the government to be less involved in than my happiness.

After increasing our taxes, blowing up our dams, wasting billions of tax dollars on the infamous "Train to Nowhere," destroying our iconic cities with no-consequences crime, rampant homelessness and uncontrolled illegal immigration, the pin-headed politicians are wondering why we're not turning cartwheels in our pothole-ridden streets.

You want us to be happy? Stop using our tax money to formulate nonsense committees. Give us the freedom to buy a gas stove if we want one. Lower the gasoline taxes and the electricity rates, both highest in the nation. Stop trying to force EVs and "smart" thermostats on us. Don't take photos of our trash to be sure we're not mixing the cardboard in with the carrot scrapings. 

I could go on, but it would just make me miserable. 

"Government's role is to provide for its people," one sanctimonious lobbyist intoned. No, actually, we can provide for ourselves just fine, thanks. Government's role is to keep the community infrastructure humming, which for decades has been a complete failure in California.

Another part of government's role is to stay out of our business. Nothing would make us happier.

Be happy or you'll pay an Unhappiness Tax

"Three Ringing Cheers"

Raise a glass today.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Kelly The Boy From Killane (youtube.com)

Health and Circumstances

I've had a great run with good health for more than 70 years. Aside from minor toe repairs (years ago, due to my running days), hip replacement surgery last week was my first major encounter with the operating room. It was quite the experience.

The doctors, nurses, and entire medical teams all get high marks. But the changes in our healthcare system I've noticed leading up to this "procedure" are dramatic and significant from two or three decades ago. Covid played its part in burning out medical staff from their jobs, and the Boomer generation statistics represent not only patients but also retiring nurses, physicians, and medical technicians. The health care industry is now so fraught with stresses and pressures that young people aren't drawn to enter it in the numbers they once did.

Today our once-stellar healthcare system is, quite frankly, a sorry shadow of its former self.

When my husband survived cancer in the 1990s with several ancillary conditions, he had probably half a dozen doctors in various specialties. If he had an ache, pain, or symptom of one sort or another, he'd mention to me, "I'm going to call Dr. A. on Monday and set up an appointment." I'd come home from work Monday evening and ask when his appointment was scheduled. Some variation of "Thursday at 2:00" or "Friday at 10:00" was the reliable response. He was always in, out, and treated within a few days. And he was seen by a physician.

Try to schedule that appointment today. "We have one opening on July 9" is the more likely response. And most likely, come July 9, you'll be examined by a physician assistant (PA), not a doctor. No disrespect towards PAs--most of them I've seen are excellent--but I think my monthly insurance premium is paying for doctors. Just saying.

The night before my surgery I received both an email and a phone call from the hospital's billing office. They wanted me to pay my "estimate" for the operation in advance. Excuse me, but nothing's happened yet. Do you pay the gardener before he mows the grass? No thank you. I'll wait for an itemized final bill--on paper please, sent via USPS.

It took nearly one year (May 2023) to get from my family doctor recommending a consultation with an orthopedic doctor to meeting with the surgeon (November 2023) to scheduling the surgery (January 2024). It was originally scheduled for April, but I got a phone call in mid-February saying that there was a cancellation in March and asking was I interested. Well, is the pope a communist? Since I could barely walk at that point, of course I was interested.

Now it's behind me, and all that remains is the physical therapy (PT). I've already started that, and the home health care organization is wonderful. They are skilled and responsive, which is especially impressive considering they are picking up the slack left by three other home health care companies in my city that had to close due to newly imposed Medicare and other government rules. I now have practical knowledge of just how bad things turn when government gets involved in our medical care. The government could make a hot mess out of buttering toast. 

So, if you need any kind of medical attention for any sort of condition, don't hesitate to start the long process towards treatment. Call your doctor's office today (if you can reach them). And I wish you good luck getting in to be seen before July 9.