For The Record

As a result of the recent election, several bloggers and friends expressed renewed hope. Below is my response. 

All well and good to hope, but the closeness of the election shows a nation greatly divided in its ideals.

Regardless of who is president, the fact that we the people have such differing -- and almost equally divided -- opinions about the direction of our future does not portend well. I think we do ourselves a disservice to think so simplistically....that a different president will make that much difference. The fact Donald Trump even attained office should be a major warning signal, but the fact that everyone believes The President is actually responsible, points up how little we realize there are HUGE machinations that go on behind the scenes...and his actions have to be ratified.

We can hope a new president may be able to make some positive changes, but he will not be able to neutralize the avarice and strivings toward power that are motivating many others throughout the world. The Chinese are only BEGINNING to come into the 21st century (see: Three Gorges Dam); and they've done it in less than 15 years. As they continue to leave us farther in the dust Americans will have increasingly little impact on the economies they, the Chinese, will come to control.

With the threat of nuclear proliferation increasingly real, our military can no longer be relied on as a deterrent. And we've shown our own hand to be one based in our own imperialist self-interests too many times for people to take our claims of "promoting democracy" seriously any longer.

Biden and Harris may have won, but I'm afraid we, as a country, have lost. It will take more than a new president to keep us on the playing field, let alone compete. You can hope all you want, but if you listen to what's being said (by folks from around the globe) at the Rim of The Grand Canyon, at Bryce, at MOMA San Francisco, people are dissing us for our provincialism. Not that they don't have problems of their own, but on top of the stupid presidents, it is the condescending attitude of America toward the rest of the world that has fostered the enmity toward us. We need to focus on cleaning up our own house, but, unfortunately, the world isn't going to stop and wait for us. And increasingly that means we're just going to fall farther behind. I blame our education system; and the fact that we've been unwilling to do anything about it has served the interests of those who can just go elsewhere. 

A Challenge!

Challenge Transcendent!

And lastly, this sent from Brewed Journey (The Atlantic abt Peter Turchin), a blogger/reader. (Thanks, John!)

Medical Billing - A WONDERFUL Day In the Neighborhood

Today, quite by accident, I discovered Dr. Khoo, the cardiologist I met with back in July, had put in an order with Presbyterian Hospital for two CT scans, one for my chest and another for my abdomen and pelvis. 

(You wouldn't BELIEVE the enmity its leaves inspire in the next-door-neighbor.)

It seems Presbyterian's protocol is grounded in patient initiative; they wait to hear from them.  Somehow I'd missed the point (more likely I forgot) that Dr. Khoo had ordered the scans. My call today -- about a billing question -- was answered by a woman who asked if I was still interested in getting the scans.

After several calls to different departments, I learned the order (for the scans) was good until November of 2021 and I needed to have blood work done in advance. I called Dr. Khoo's office and they said they'd fax over an order (to the lab) for the bloodwork right away.  

Concerned about the cost, I'd acquired the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and armed with those was in a position - assuming everyone used the same codes -- to learn how much more in debt I might wanna go. 

Then someone mentioned I might qualify for Presbyterian's financial assistance. BUT, Radiology Associates (R.A.) ALSO does CT scans and not only do they do them cheaper but since they do the reading (interpretation) for Presbyterian's scans, if I had R.A. do the scans I'd only get one bill. (This tidbit was delivered with such enthusiasm you'd think it was right up there with an absolution!)

A call to Presbyterian's Advocacy Center (financial assistance) gave me to hope I'd be eligible for 100% financial assistance EXCEPT for Radiology Associate's readings. This necessitated another call to R.A. to find out what they charge for reading sans scanning. (R.A., I was informed, does NOT offer financial assistance.)

I can apply to Presbyterian for financial assistance by having the forms mailed, completing them and mailing them back (takes longer), downloading a pdf and mailing it in (printer ink is INCREDIBLY expensive!) or I can apply online through an automated application process.

I scheduled the scans at Pres (as it's locally known) for Saturday at 2pm.

I've been on the phone for 2 hours and 47 minutes. It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!

Oh, and guess what? The heart attack was March 8. This week Santa Cruz hospital called to let me know there's ANOTHER $500.00 owed. It took this long for the bill to float to the surface. You can't AFFORD a heart attack.

Confluence Project

Advocates For the West's case notes for Fall/Winter 2020 is available online here.

In it Anna Demetriades, Director of Communications & Outreach, recognizes the support of artist Rachel Teannalach (Teen-uh-lak). 

I've mentioned Advocates before and want to join them in expressing my gratitude to Rachel. 

The Confluence Project is a collaboration between Advocates For the West and artist Rachel Teannalach. 

Evening Glow

https://www.teannalach-confluenceproject.com/

Salmon River and Sawtooths

Rachel Teannalach's Website

http://www.teannalach.com/

Thank you Rachel!

Now That He - Trump - Is Gone

24.Nov.2023

I'm clearing stuff off the desktop at Michelle's and came across the file below. I felt it strong enough to post...if, for no other reason, than as a memento. I wrote it 9.Nov.2020.

All well and good to hope (now that he's gone), but the closeness of the election shows a nation greatly divided in its ideals.

Regardless of who is president, the fact that we the people have such differing -- and almost equally divided -- opinions about the direction of our future does not portend well.

Methinks we do ourselves a disservice to think so simplistically....that a different president will make that much difference. The fact Donald Trump even attained office should be a major warning signal, but the fact that everyone believes The President is actually responsible, points up how little we realize there are HUGE machinations that go on behind the scenes...and his actions have to be ratified. 

We can hope a new president may be able to make some positive changes, but he will not be able to neutralize the avarice and strivings toward power that are motivating many others throughout the world. The Chinese are only BEGINNING to come into the 21st century; and they've done it in a mere 15 years. As they continue to leave us farther in the dust Americans will have increasingly little impact on the economies they, the Chinese, will come to control.

With the threat of nuclear proliferation increasingly real, our military can no longer be relied on as a deterrent. And we've shown our hand to be based in our own imperialist self-interests too many times for people to any longer take seriously our claims of "promoting democracy."

Biden and Harris may have won, but I'm afraid we, as a country, have lost. It will take more than a new president to keep us on the playing field, let alone compete. You can hope all you want, but if you listen to what's being said (by folks from around the globe) at the Rim of Grand Canyon, at Bryce National Monument, at MOMA San Francisco, people are dissing us for our provincialism. 

Not that they don't have problems of their own, but on top of the stupid presidents, it's America's condescending attitude toward the rest of the world that has fostered enmity toward us.

We need to focus on cleaning up our own house, but, unfortunately, the world isn't going to stop and wait for us. And increasingly that means we're just going to fall further behind.

I blame our education system; the fact that we've been willing to accept its dumbing down has only served to make it easier to convince folks there're simple answers to our difficulties. Race prejudice, religious differences, over-population have yet to respond to slogans. 

Bristol Doughnuts

Irish Maid in Fort Smith, Arkansas has held the top spot for over 25 years. Their chocolate mousse is non-pareil!

The other evening, as I was cutting up one from Bristol, Emily asked if I'd tried Whoo's in Santa Fe. Actually, I had. They're good, but gave me indigestion. That could, of course, be because of the heart meds.

'Im sorry to say Bristol's are mediocre.  

But they have a REWARDS program!!! Get 10 stars and you get a FREE donut!

On Comanche...southwest of Morris.

Bernalillo

What once was a xenophobic Hispanics-only community, is now a bustling suburb.

From atop the long hill that used to ascend (for several miles) next to a sea-of-sage, one now looks out upon a ghetto.

The workers are housed in warrens nearer to town.

Further Down the Hill

The north-end intersection. Once only the KFC and McDonalds.

Ah! The Blatting of Loud Mufflers!

The Thrill of Being Somewhere!

Highway 550

I left Looking Glass Road in Utah a few minutes after 1:00 p.m., about half an hour early from usual. 

A few miles west of Farmington I took the 64 bypass. It was dark and I'd not been this route before. The road climbed up onto the mesa then wound through some hills. I was trundling along at about 40 miles an hour when a semi came up behind me; I moved onto the shoulder to let him by. From then on we barreled along at 60 until we came out onto 550 a couple of miles north of Angel Peak Scenic Area.

Calling it a "Scenic Area" is a little misleading. It's a huge gas field with pumps runnning constantly; the "area" sounds like an airfield with planes idling on runways. The scenic part is a huge pit of badlands while the gas field -- a prime example of BLM's multiple-uses policy, is mostly flat, over-grazed (but with cattle still on it) and covered with a low-growing shrub with mean little stickers.

The main road around the rim (of the badlands) is so washboarded I called the BLM office to complain. You take your chances on the other roads as they're mere scrapings through the brush put in place to enable servicing the wellpumps. There are places of loose sand and the sandy-clay turns into gumbo when wet.

But the washboard was so bad it motivated me to move onto the secondary roads which, although they have weeds growing in their middles, are at least (relatively) smooth. It was too dark to see so camp was a random choice settled on because there was a flat spot in the middle of a triangle at a junction. As a consolation prize the moon rose a golden buttery yellow and spread a magnificent glow throughout the night! This morning I was rolling by 10:30 a.m. 

Cabezon Peak & Associated Plugs

The Ojito Wilderness is out there somewhere. It's about an hour and half from Albuquerque. It looks closer on the map but you can't travel very fast on the dirt roads.

As you travel south, the landscape grows increasingly dramatic. The San Ysidro Anticline is in the middle of a geologic hodgepodge that includes active fumeroles, mudpits and several areas of anomalous contacts.

 

Geology 101 Field Trip