I just got the itemized bill from my hospital stay last month. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. Now mind you I had a wonderful experience while I was in the hospital. My husband had the same surgey (GallBladder removal) at another local hospital and he had the absolute worst experience. My husband was in the hospital for 3 weeks. I was there for 5 days. But our hospital bills were exactly alike. How is that even possible?? His bill was $110,000 in 2005. I can't believe the costs have gone up that much in 7 years.

Here are a few items I found interesting:
* Accomodations - $4500 (I could have stayed at the Breakers for less money)
* Pharmacy - $35,000 (I know I had some good drugs, but WOW)
* OR Costs - $30,000
* Sterile Supplies - $7500

And here is the kicker. I have insurance, so these items were all negotiated down to 1/10 the cost. My insurance company paid $11,000 and the bill is done. So those people without insurance don't get a negotiated rate?? How can someone afford that without insurance?? And how are they allowed to get that much of a discount??

At the end of the day, I've met my deductible for the year ($2800). Still not sure how I'm gonna pay for that, though. But hopefully I can make installment payments . . .

And finally I want to thank the Affordable Care Act of 2010. My company before 2011 had a lifetime limit on medical of $100,000 and a yearly amount of $20,000. I might be paying a ton more money out of pocket without ObamaCares!! If more people would actually read what is covered they would see that this is a good thing for this country. If people would stop listening to Talking Heads who know nothing and actually learn for themselves, this country wouldn't be as angry as it is.

http://money.msn.com/investment-advice/10-brand-names-gone-but-not-forgotten-thestreet.aspx?cp-documentid=6846398&ocid=xnetr1-1

1. F.W. Woolworth
2. Amiga
3. Merry-Go-Round/Chess King (I used to wok at Merry Go Round)
4. Diners Club card
5. Tab (Tab, what a beautiful drink. Tab, for beautiful people)
6. Rustler Steak House
7. McCall's (I think the change to Rosie killed it)
8. General Cinemas (I saw Star Wars at one)
9. Pan Am (now it's a cancelled TV show, too)
10. Chiclets

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45871047/ns/business/

The Vatican said on Wednesday that Pope Benedict had accepted the resignation of Gabino Zavala, an auxiliary bishop of the diocese which has been plagued by sexual scandals.

A brief Vatican announcement did not give the reason for Zavala's resignation, saying only that the pope had accepted it under the norm in canon (Church law) that says a bishop who is ill or otherwise unfit to carry out his duties should resign.

But Zavala's direct superior, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, has prepared a letter for the faithful in the archdiocese explaining the circumstances of the departure of Zavala, who was assistant bishop for the San Gabriel region of California.

In the letter, a draft of which was obtained from a Catholic Church source in Rome, Gomez said Zavala, 60, had informed him in early December that he was the father of two teenage children who live with their mother in another state.


I'll just say this as a non-Catholic, I have never understood why it's so important for the Priests not being able to marry. I know Rabbis get married. My brother is a Baptist Minister - married with 4 kids. Why is it that the Catholic Church is still using this archaic method for choosing their leaders?? I just want to know. I'm not knocking Catholicism, I'm knocking this particular thing.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/wikileaks-fanjuls-among-sugar-barons-who-muscled-lawmakers-2074022.html

Growers were likely bribing Dominican lawmakers, sponsoring anti-American attack ads and paying for slanted newspaper coverage, American diplomats alleged in secret dispatches to Washington in 2004 - documents obtained by WikiLeaks and reviewed by The Palm Beach Post.

The cables outline just one side of a high-stakes and contentious debate, but they contain controversial allegations against Palm Beach County's most influential sugar family: the Fanjuls.

The diplomats identified the Cuban expatriates as especially fierce opponents in the fight over the free trade agreement, a struggle that led to layoffs and a mill closing in the Glades.

On one side, the Fanjuls, owners of 155,000 acres in Palm Beach County and among the largest sugar producers in the world, and other Dominican sugar growers bridled at what they viewed as "heavy-handed" and "dictatorial" tactics by the U.S. ambassador and at American pandering to special interests.

more at the link . . .