Business, Economics, Health, Law

Healthcare Insanity

11 Comments

I just got the doctor’s bill for my back problems. The doctor’s visit was $900, which seems crazy high to me for five minutes with her, but the insurance paid for it. The X-ray was a couple hundred bucks, but the insurance covered that, too.

But the insurance didn’t cover all of the back brace (which I only wore for a day or two, after deciding it wasn’t doing me much good). It only covered $4350 dollars, and I got stuck with the bill for the other $644. Yes, that’s right; they charged five effing grand for a lumbar-support brace.

After Christmas, I’m going to raise hell. There has to be some kind of mistake. If not, I’m going into the back-brace business.

[Update a while later]

Note: I haven’t been billed for the MRI yet. I can’t wait.

Business, Political Commentary, Space, Technology and Society

Boeing’s Annus Horribilis

47 Comments

…continues with today’s failure of Starliner to get to the ISS. Stories from Eric Berger , Marina Koren, and Tim Fernholz.

The question is whether or not they’ll insist on another uncrewed test flight before putting in crew. Given the cost of an Atlas V, I’d be inclined to say no, given that this failure wouldn’t have resulted in loss of crew. Worst case for a crewed flight would be failure to dock, which would just mean a mission abort back to White Sands. But as we all know, SAFETY IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.

[Late-morning update]

Loren Grush has another take.

[Update mid-afternoon]

Here’s a story from Emilee Speck in Orlando.

Business, Media Criticism, Popular Culture, Technology and Society

The Rise Of Skywalker

5 Comments

Peter Suderman gives it a hearty thumbs down:

Skywalker is a frantic, disjointed mess—not a movie with good ideas poorly executed, not even a movie with bad ideas, but a movie with no ideas at all, save for saccharine paeans to fandom and nostalgia. As a story, it is empty and unengaging to the point of boredom. As a cinematic product, it is surprisingly lackluster, with shoddy effects and muddy visuals. And as an entry in the Star Wars franchise, an ostensibly major part of the pop-culture canon, it is a wasted opportunity: a total failure of both creative imagination and corporate brand management.

But other than that, I’m sure it’s great.

Biting Commentary about Infinity…and Beyond!