February 12, 2012

Sunday Dental Thread: Basically good news...

Over the years I have posted and made allusions to the fact that "General Dentistry Gross Revenues" are a leading indicator of the economy. It was clear to me for 15 months prior to the collapse that trouble was coming and was called "Chicken Little" by many of my compatriots and some here as well.

Well, I have to tell you that business is up and improving dramatically over the past 18 months. Having done my little Quicken graph, gross revenues are up a fairly whopping percentage over this time four years ago and, I am pleased to say, we are treating more people who are somewhat financially compromised but quite able to make most-reasonable payment arrangements which, although my office manager is vaguely displeased with the length, are satisfactory for all concerned. This was not the case four years ago: most honest folk would say that they were so worried that they would be hard-pressed to say that they would even be employed three months hence, they didn't want to renege on arrangements. It is important to state at this point that no one ever leaves my office with infection or in pain despite their inability to pay at the time of treatment. It is inhuman to do so IMO.

So things are picking up and if the Democrats can somehow paint a good picture of what's going on, then we should be in good shape, or at least reasonable shape by November.

Weird/funny dental story of the week: A patient comes in to have her denture, recently placed by me, adjusted. She takes it out of her mouth and it's her old denture. I ask her,"Sorry you had to wear the old one, where's the new one?" She replied, "This IS the new one." it wasn't. Gently, I remind her of the cracks in the old one and...there they are. She says, "I'm so embarassed. I've been wearing this one since the second day I guess. I must have taken the wrong one out of the soak." I told her that she was great and to come see me next week and to bring both each time until she was comfortable. She was laughing the entire time. I think she's OK, but she's on my unofficial "watch-list".

February 12, 2012

So Newt's marriage was a "failia" 'cause he has no genitalia...

I'm sorry: a little too much to drinkie tonight...

going to bed early...

February 11, 2012

They have declared the War on Contraception

which has been coming for a long long time. They are going "All in" but MAKE NO MISTAKE: they will wage this war over GENERATIONS. Don't kid yourselves for a minute: their patience is much greater than ours and they know that their task is difficult but 'sanctioned' the the Lord God Himself. They are TERMINATORS: they WILL NOT STOP until their task is finished. They are driven, compelled, and without doubt in their quest.

As I pointed out YEARS AGO in this forum, and then again recently, this has been their mission FROM THE BEGINNING of the so-called Pro-life/Pro-choice 'debate' For them it is not a debate: it is life and death. Do not doubt their ferocity and their dedication to their 'cause'. If we would defeat them, we would have to watch that red light in the eyes go out completely.

February 11, 2012

Intriguing here in Philadelphia...the continuing Church scandal

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120211_Montgomery_County_district_attorney_explains_her_calling_for_Bevilacqua_exam.html?cmpid=124488459



Montgomery County district attorney explains her calling for Bevilacqua exam

By John P. Martin
Inquirer Staff Writer


D.A.: Cardinal's death timing 'peculiar'

Neighbors rile Sandusky
Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman asked the county coroner to examine the body of Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua last week because the timing of the 88-year-old prelate's death struck her as "peculiar," she said Friday.

Ferman acknowledged that she enlisted county Coroner Walter I. Hofman because the cardinal died one day after a Philadelphia judge said Bevilacqua could be called to testify at the child sex-abuse and endangerment trial of three current and former priests.

"I had the same reaction that many people had and that many people communicated with me," Ferman told reporters at a news conference in Norristown. "It struck many of us as odd, as peculiar, that the cardinal passed away so suddenly after the court ruling. . . . I just thought that someone should make sure that nothing happened that was inappropriate."

Ferman said she had no information to suggest that the cardinal was the victim of foul play or an unnatural death. She said her office had not opened an investigation.


+++++++++++

More at the link...this has been ongoing for a few days now...hmmmm.

February 10, 2012

When I was young the first two columnists I read regularly were Cal Thomas and Donald Kaul...

because they were the two featured in my newspaper and had little pictures which are called something which I cannot recall. Kaul was hippie-looking and vervy-looking. Thomas had that perpetual scowl, like the asshole he is.

Thomas, that POS, is of course, still spouting his crap and lies almost daily. Kaul retired and writes for some Progressive mags and I never see his stuff, but after my mom passed away, I found a whole trove of columns of Kaul's and he was brilliant, funny, and oh-so-truthful. Thomas was just evil...I have to say that these two formed me more than anyone except my parents: I couldn't believe how mean and nasty Thomas was. His statement about Rachel are reprehensible...but nothing new.

February 10, 2012

You are completely and totally wrong...

you see, it was part of God's Plan that Zebras would have stripes so that people would be able to enjoy their appearance and not confuse them with horses or mules which were created so that man could harness their working energy. You are totally missing the point and need to understand that nothing 'evolves': it is simply created by God for whatever Reason HE wishes. the fact that there is evidence to the contrary is simply a ploy by God to test one's faith. Don't believe everything you read, unless it is in the Bible, then it's literally Gospel. And THAT was written by God Himself and it is perfectly clear from the King James Version that if English was good enough for Jesus and God, then it should be good enough for those who cross our borders, whether legally or illegally.

just in case

If someone wants to cross-post this to FR, just remove the ...they won't know the difference over there.

February 9, 2012

You REALLY REALLY don't want contraception? REALLY????

For all you lurking Freepers and other repressed RWers, I have just two simple questions: Don't you realize that you would be sanctioning the utter and complete dimunition of the "'Natural-born' (sic and sick) Caucasian" population to minority status within, oh, 40 years? Since you spend most of your time railing about the "welfare queens" and the "illegal immigrants" and the "French" (by which you really mean civilized-former-residents-of-any-country-east-of-Greenland), don't you think for just one minute that "their" reproductive rates will escalate through the roof?

The "best" thing which ever happened to your "movement" is that contraceptives were made available to people of all social classes and thus preserved the 1 percenters' chances of holding on a little while longer. That is, until the inevitable progression of the growth curves ascend to the inevitable zeniths and nadirs.

February 5, 2012

What $10,990 bought in 1955....

Remember when prices were so interesting that when asked what price was paid for a home, my mom and dad used to say the above number rather than 11000 dollars. The mortgage and taxes were 102 dollars monthly which was about a week's net for the family in those days. This is what the cinder-block house consisted of:

Three bedrooms
One bath
Living room
Kitchen with stainless steel countertops, garbage disposal (batch type), dishwasher, oven/range, refrigerator, and real wood cabinets with brass hinges.
Central Air Conditioner
Utility room with Bendix Washer/dryer, incinerator (!), instant hot water coil rather than water heater, thus infinite supply of hot water
shingled roof in any color desired
poured concrete window boxes
Large multi-pane bay window
ONE-THIRD of an acre of land
Mecatum driveway and carport (concrete reinforced)
Planted grass and proper grading
Sewer system (rather than septic tank or cesspool(!)

This price was level for years AND the schools systems in suburban Philly in this particular region, while not fantastic, were serviceable. The neighborhood was mixed-religious (although not racially integrated) and fairly tolerant of most folk. People enjoyed the air, the ground, and the conviviality. We were an evolving, striving, hopeful group for the most part, even though there was the usual marital/personal/family stuff going on.

Just a reflection on a quiet Sunday...