riddler

Just wondering numbers. Let's say, 4 months of legal fees for both sides equals $120,000? Complete WAG. Anyway, are the manufacturers going to make $120,000 in profit selling hook knives to skydivers? With manufacturing, and all overhead, there may only be a dollar or two in profit on each one ... Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Well, he sure can't use the 'Let's have a "Sandwich" in my office' shtick anymore. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I wonder how much money all the lawyers made over a hook knife? Was that really worth it? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Depends on what she's choking on. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

It's good to be the King Edit - that was a TERRIBLE Heimlich! He completely wrapped her arms. Are they sure he's a doctor? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I never had time to play Neverwinter Nights (a PC game), but I read a review of how it worked, and I'm pretty sure it was 100% D&D in a computer game. It's not the same as good old fashioned role playing that I used to do as a kid, but it appeals to my ever-shorter attention span as an adult. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Another good post, Nick, and I agree. But the rest of the world is against us. Commercialization had already taken over skydiving when I started eight years. I had to pay money even to learn to pack my main parachute. It's in the process of taking over BASE now. As long as people watch it, there's going to be other people that say "hey, I can make money from this!" Then, there's no forest or community that's safe. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I just got a new Vector 3 (#49658), and I'm looking forward to jumping it in Moab. I will say this about the container - even if you pay full price for it, it is a very nice system. Every single detail about the sales, shipping, packaging, and product appears to be well thought-out. I've watched and helped pack reserves for several of the other American manufacturers over the years, and this is the Cadillac of containers. Except it's better, Cadillac being not such a great brand anymore. I expect the 50K will be made very soon now - good luck to you buyers! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Given the number of scientists that agree with global warming, vs. the very few deniers, you all should probably stand on a street corner with a sign that says "the end is NOT near". Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Didn't expect everyone to get an easy metaphor, so here it is again: 1. Government option = low-quality phone. Free, but not so great 2. Current healthcare = medium-range phone. Better, costs more, not ideal in any sense 3. Expensive phone for rich people = let's face it, the rich will always have more options. So, right now, the phone costs money - and a lot of people can't afford it. Obama proposes a free phone for the 40 million Americans that can't afford one - sure it sucks, but at least they can call mom. If you really like your current model, keep it and pay for it. If you're rich, go ahead and buy that iPhone. I'm not saying any government program works well. I am saying that a cheap (or free) option for 40 million Americans is better than nothing. According to you, no government program will be able to compete with privatized insurance anyway, so why worry? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

What I'm saying is that you can't compare socialized medicine to a Samsung, and the US medical system to an iPhone. I'm also saying that not everyone can afford an iPhone, that's why the Samsungs of the world are there. But it doesn't mean the government is going to require us all to get Razrs - it means there is an OPTION to get cheaper cell phones if you can't afford the more expensive model. If you believe these are valid arguments, then you should have zero problem with a government option. After all, it will eventually fail due to it's own bureaucracy and then people will buy the better, private insurance, correct? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Another good idea. But when the government does that, they are also impinging on the free market by requiring cost distribution for consumers. Both ways require government intervention, and both will be flawed. There is a monumental amount of government regulation for healthcare providers already. It hasn't worked thus far to drive down costs to reasonable levels, and I doubt that adding more will do the trick. The government option is more drastic, and I think it would achieve more marked results. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

So do the insurance companies, because they'll actually have to compete. All of the resistance comes from a multi-billion dollar industry! If the government mandated we all drive electric cars because it's better for the environment, you can bet the oil companies would get Rush to say that it's NOT better for the environment, and they would get Sarah Palin to talk about how the new cars are death-traps. Stop being a parrot for the super-wealthy. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

That's like saying a motorola Razr cellphone that costs $49 is better than a Samsung cell phone that's free. It might be a little better, but not much, and there are still better phones out there (iPhone, Blackberry, etc). Then why would you be opposed to a government option? People that can't afford expensive insurance would be covered, and you could still choose to spend money on your private insurance that is, according to you, so much better. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Dave, was that you? lol Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

This is quantum science here, so it's weird, odd, strange, and perfectly normal, all at the same time. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

My first response is the X-33, which was a program we were barely involved with at LMSS. But maybe you are talking about Zeppelins? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

One day a 66-year-old new anchor is sitting in his office, getting makeup for the evening broadcast. He points to the various awards and citations that hang on the walls of the windowed, corner bureau, and he starts reminiscing. “You see these twenty-eight Emmys? In my heyday, I reported on the 9/11 attacks, and on the untimely death of JKF Jr. But do people call me ‘the Voice of the People?’ Noooooooooooo, they don’t!” “And do you see that Contract? I currently earn $2 million a year, on a five-year contract with this affiliate. But do people call me ‘the richest local news anchor in the country?’ Noooooooooooo, they don’t!” “And you see these radio stations? I started with one station, and now I own several stations all along the eastern shore. But do people call me ‘the media mogul?’ Noooooooooooo, they don’t!” “But you fuck just one chicken…” Yeah, we're going to get a lot of mileage out of this one. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Taken a bit out of context, the former governor was weighing in with support for physician-assisted suicide, not talking specifically about seniors. In fact, Republicans today would be proud of him for trying to save taxpayer money. Seniors were the most offended by his comment: Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

To answer my own question, the independent group Tax Foundation, estimates that the average American pays about $25,000 per year in taxes. If 45,000 average Americans die every year, this represents $1.125 billion dollars in lost taxes for one year. If we can keep those Average American taxpayers alive for another 10 years, it becomes $11 billion. And adding an additional 45,000 Average Americans each year, the additional 10-year tax revenue would be more than enough to foot the bill for all government medicine. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Interestingly enough, I was in this situation about a decade ago. I quit a job with a large space contractor on Friday, and started with a large telecom the following Monday. But with health insurance companies being the way they are, there was a 30-day lag before I started receiving HC at the new job (the HC at the old job expired the day I left). 20 day into "the gap", my appendix went bad. Doctors said I would have been dead within another 12 hours. In most countries, they would yank my appendix out, and taxes would pay the bill. In 1985, Reagan and a Democratic Congress passed COBRA, which allowed me to retroactively pay for the insurance, which then covered the expense. Otherwise my choice would be death, or a $15,000 medical bill. Because I lived, I have since generated about $300,000 in taxes for the good ol' US government. And if I live to retirement, I'll probably generate another $1 million, just in taxes. Just from an economic standpoint, it makes sense for the government to do everything they can to keep me alive - even if they had to pay the $15K for that operation themselves. When right-wingers complain about the cost of healthcare, they're not looking at the long-term tax revenue from the citizens that survive. How much money would an additional 45,000 Americans each year generate in tax revenue? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Whatever is in people's minds is the reflection of the state of the economy - more so than ANY fundamentals. This is why Keynes was adamantly against public markets. I lost a project in January, and the customer told me, "If oil gets above $60 again, we'll call you back." Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Your point was taken - I was confirming this with my own account. Most people don't have the option to work for large telecoms and defense contractors, or small financial and Internet companies like I do. Drew also has very good education and specialized skills that make him an asset. The tens of thousands of out-of-work auto employees don't necessarily have the options we do, and those are the people that I am discussing. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

If that is a justification for the continued privatization of healthcare, I'm curious if you think the people in nearly every other industrialized nation are irresponsible? Not to play the bandwagon, but the US is among the very few "wealthy" country that doesn't provide publicly-funded healthcare, and many of those other countries did so by the consent of the population (voting or political pressure). So does that mean all the other countries have people that don't want to take responsibility for themselves? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

In my experience, I could get this sort of coverage by working for either a very large corporation that had tens of thousands of employees and could negotiate a great rate OR a small, well-funded VC company that had kick-ass product and was competing for the best talent. Both scenarios happened in the "good" economies, not the "bad" economies, where the company paid for the insurance. I still work as a contractor for some of the smaller companies. Now that the economy is bad, they offer insurance to their employees for sale. If I were still an employee, it would cost me about $1,000/month to insure my wife and two children - the same cost as my home mortgage. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD