• Memories?

    From CYBERPOPE@3:640/1115 to ALL on Tue Sep 14 11:42:44 2021
    Anyone around 50 years ago?

    Quotations from 1971:

    "They always say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them
    yourself." --Andy Warhol

    "Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the
    armires of the status quo will treat her as sometghing of a dirty joke." --Gloria Steinam

    Later:
    "Glooo-ooo-ria!!" - Laura Brannigan
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  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to CYBERPOPE on Wed Sep 15 00:57:00 2021
    Hello CYBERPOPE!

    ** On Tuesday 14.09.21 - 11:42, CYBERPOPE wrote to ALL:

    Anyone around 50 years ago?

    I seem to recall that I was into my late teens by then.

    Later:
    "Glooo-ooo-ria!!" - Laura Brannigan

    The song got a lot of air-play. I got sick of it pretty quick.

    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.50
    * Origin: Time moves in one direction, memory in another. -WG- (2:221/1.58)
  • From Daryl Stout@1:2320/33 to CYBERPOPE on Wed Sep 15 13:05:00 2021
    Whoo Hoo!! Traffic In Here!! We needed to wake up the Moderator from
    his echo slumber. <g,d,r>

    Anyone around 50 years ago?

    I was.

    I had arches built into my feet in late May, and I spent that summer with casts from the knees down...having to learn to walk, ride a bike, etc. all
    over again.

    Daryl

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  • From CYBERPOPE@3:640/1115 to August Abolins on Wed Sep 15 15:51:02 2021
    "Glooo-ooo-ria!!" - Laura Brannigan

    The song got a lot of air-play. I got sick of it pretty quick.

    That happens.

    In '84, I think it wasd the Cars had a hit that the kids in my video
    arcade (in Nipigon) played everty 30 minutes. Eventually I set a rule;
    it may be played ONCE a day at 4pm, & if I hear it again, I kill it &
    you lose your quarter (that kept my sanity a bit longer)

    It's good to be the king! *LOL*

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  • From CYBERPOPE@3:640/1115 to Daryl Stout on Wed Sep 15 15:55:16 2021
    Whoo Hoo!! Traffic In Here!! We needed to wake up the Moderator from
    his echo slumber. <g,d,r>

    Anyone around 50 years ago?

    I was.

    I had arches built into my feet in late May, and I spent that summer with casts from the knees down...having to learn to walk, ride a bike, etc. all over again.

    Sounds like a bummer -- how old were you?

    My wife had both her feet operated on as a child & dumb surgeon chose to
    do both at once, leaving her unable to be up on her own until recovered!


    Who's the moderator who needs waking?

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  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to CYBERPOPE on Wed Sep 15 21:29:00 2021
    Hello CYBERPOPE!

    ** On Wednesday 15.09.21 - 15:51, CYBERPOPE wrote to August Abolins:

    In '84, I think it wasd the Cars had a hit that the kids in
    my video arcade (in Nipigon) played everty 30 minutes.
    Eventually I set a rule; it may be played ONCE a day at
    4pm, & if I hear it again, I kill it & you lose your
    quarter (that kept my sanity a bit longer)

    You operated/owned an arcade?

    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.50
    * Origin: Time moves in one direction, memory in another. -WG- (2:221/1.58)
  • From Daryl Stout@1:2320/33 to CYBERPOPE on Thu Sep 16 01:11:00 2021
    George,

    it may be played ONCE a day at 4pm, & if I hear it again, I kill it &
    you lose your quarter (that kept my sanity a bit longer)

    Did they try it more after that??

    It's good to be the king! *LOL*

    Not if the wife crowns you. <G>

    Daryl

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  • From Daryl Stout@1:2320/33 to CYBERPOPE on Thu Sep 16 01:21:00 2021
    George,

    I had arches built into my feet in late May, and I spent that summer with casts from the knees down...having to learn to walk, ride a bike, etc. all over again.

    Sounds like a bummer -- how old were you?

    I was only 11...I had been allowed to take all my final exams in 5th grade early, so I could proceed with the surgery. However, I tend to "go under very deep" with anesthesia. My Mom said they told her to "shake me every once in awhile, to make sure he's still alive".

    My wife had both her feet operated on as a child & dumb surgeon chose
    to do both at once, leaving her unable to be up on her own until recovered!

    When I had plantar fasciitis (bone spur surgery) 11 years ago, I had both feet done at the same time, as I wanted to get it over with. They got me
    back there, and stripped me nude (as was expected). They got the I.V. in, consulted with me beforehand, and gave me "relaxing medicine"...saying "This will make you feel more comfortable".

    POOF!! I was out like a light!! When I woke up, I felt like I had concrete blocks on my feet. I had to wear special shoes for 6 weeks.

    Bone spurs are the most common ailment podiatrists encounter. I usually
    go to mine every month or two, to get the toenails trimmed. My arthritis
    is so bad, that I can't squeeze the clippers. Plus, it lets them check
    the feet for swelling, etc., as I have the potential to become type 2
    diabetic.

    Who's the moderator who needs waking?

    Joe Mackey (that'll get his ears burning <G>).

    Daryl

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  • From George Pope@1:153/757.2 to Daryl Stout on Sun Sep 19 12:15:34 2021
    George,

    it may be played ONCE a day at 4pm, & if I hear it again, I kill it
    &
    you lose your quarter (that kept my sanity a bit longer)

    Did they try it more after that??

    I was the top of the authority ladder, so nope.

    They had one appeal, (usually "Aww, c'mon, pleeease") & when I denied it,
    they were forbidden to seek further appeal.

    After day one, they'd come in each day, after school & ask, politely, "has anyone played #37 yet today?" & if I said no, they'd ask if they could &,
    of course, per my stated rule, I let them. (most waited for friends to show
    up, but claimed postion at the juke, to be the one to put the coin in,
    while all watched me nervously) (I was only a year or two older than them -
    -it felt good!)

    I'd then bury my face in my notebook, creating complex algorithms in BASIC.

    It's good to be the king! *LOL*

    Not if the wife crowns you. <G>

    I was 17, single, & free!

    Good times. . . I managed to avoid getting a permanent place to settle into
    & pay bills until aged 19!

    The only other time I loathed a song so much was a Bob Seger album that
    played in the background as I was being beaten & otherwise tortured in a
    remote POW camp for half a summer.

    That song came on for three year, on the radio, & I'd begin to smell the
    woods & cabin where I was kept, & feel the terror. . . It's eased with
    time, now it's just a song I'm not partial to. . .

    Mostly now I play music in the background, using Accuradio website in my
    first browser tab. Like now I have classic rock album cuts (not just the
    #1 hits, but some deeper into their albums)

    &, as "CC Rider" completes, I end this message. . .

    Your friend,

    <+]:{)}
    Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From George Pope@1:153/757.2 to Daryl Stout on Sun Sep 19 13:04:32 2021
    Bone spurs are the most common ailment podiatrists encounter. I
    usually
    go to mine every month or two, to get the toenails trimmed. My arthritis
    is so bad, that I can't squeeze the clippers. Plus, it lets them check
    the feet for swelling, etc., as I have the potential to become type 2 diabetic.

    I have a podiatry certified Rn come rto my home evet 6-7 weeks to trum my
    toes & do a full health check of my feet while she's down there. . . all
    for $50.

    In 1990, I was told the cost for a podiatry physician to trim my nails was $250+ (but it was 100% covered as I was in-hospital); since then our
    doctors have had several new contracts with the governmn (one-payor
    systemof universal healthcare coverage) & the podiatrists have opted out
    ogd the provincial medicare system & operate as individual private
    businesses, so I get a little ofg what ytou guys go through for everything, just when I need specialized feet work .

    Had my big toe's nail & matrix/bed removed a few yeares back; my GP sent me
    to a General Surgeon who did it (he died since, & General Surgeons just
    tefer all foot surical stuff to a podiatrist This guy I had was
    exceptional)

    If there's one thing I've learned in taking care of medical bills in the US
    for the past 15 years, is never pay the printed cost!

    I've seen a surgery bill knocked down to 20% of the original 4/5 thrown
    away)

    Can't do that here in BC, as that would be practicing law without a
    license. :P

    IMO, laws are made just to befuddle & require always more lawyer hours to resolve the problems they create.




    Who's the moderator who needs waking?

    Joe Mackey (that'll get his ears burning <G>).

    Daryl

    ... Procatstinate: The cat can't decide to go out or stay inside.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
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    Your friend,

    <+]:{)}
    Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From George Pope@1:153/757.2 to August Abolins on Sun Sep 19 13:23:10 2021
    You operated/owned an arcade?

    Yup, in my lasy year of hitchiking (age 17) I woulnd up near ther Sault, at Hemlo Mines, looking for miniong labourer work, but they were only giving
    the jobsd to union guys bused in from NY state at the time.

    A nice young lady front gate 'guard' drove me into Nipigon so I'd have a
    decent place to hitch from to continue my journey back west.

    20 minutes later, I hear honking & she's leaning out he passenger window screaming my name. Her mother(driving) pulled in front of me & began
    backing up.

    I caught up only to be told that the daughter tyold her mom my story & her
    mom was appalled I was left out in the cold, so they brought me home, fed
    me, & washed/dried my smelly hobo clothes.

    Dad was out of town on a business trip, so I guess I was male
    company/security, as the older brother had just moved out on his own
    earlier that year.

    Dad returned home a few days later & wasn't overjhoyed that a homeless teen
    bum from BC hasd been given a home in the basement & fed regularly, but as
    all husbands do eventually, he came around to the Mom's charitable way of thinking, & agreed to help me find a job & home.

    He beganm by giving me a job azrt his arcade from 4pm-midnight, as his dad
    did the day shift, & he'd come in after his time at his main job/business
    to take over at 4 (yup, he was ever so excited every day to do that second shift, so here was my opportunity)

    I did this for a few months, using my pay to pay for a weekly hotel room
    down the road; the mom provided me meals(supper; I used the till to send a
    kid to the cafe to get my lunch (in exchange for a free game of poool or
    two, depending on negotiations) every day.

    Then he came o me to say the day shft was too much for his elderllyt dad, really, & would I like to take over the arcade completely, as he had his
    hands full with his other business.

    So the poool hall cum arcade was miine! I took over the contracts with the video games company, snack suppliers, & landlord.

    After paying for my hotel room, I had about the a,me amount of money left
    over each m,ontgh as previous, but now I worked 12h00-00h00, plus an hour
    of cleaning, instead of 16h00-00h00+cleaning. Hmmm. . . *LOL*

    By December, t hough, I'd run afoul of some local issues, & basically
    ensured the top local meathead(far more popular than the kid from out of
    town) was likely going to prison (3rd strike) & word ca,e down the poike
    that he was lertting it be known thart if he's going down anyway, a near
    fatal beating on his rexord won't do any extra harm, so I reverted the
    arcade back to the original owner, apologetically, & got a bus ticket back
    to BC.

    I was a twiggy thing, & not up to a fight with a veritable psychotically
    angry monster, so I did the prudent thing & fled.

    My one winter in -40(24/7) temps & I was cured. Now I stay here in the
    Canadian tropics! 'cause the rest of y'all live "beyond Hope" (the snow
    line; from here east there's guaranteed to be snow every winter!); Hope is
    a wee town that lies just west of the Cascade Mountains; They separate
    western BC from the Interior.


    Your friend,

    <+]:{)}
    Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to George Pope on Mon Sep 20 00:18:00 2021
    Hello George Pope!

    ** On Sunday 19.09.21 - 13:23, George Pope wrote to August Abolins:

    You operated/owned an arcade?

    Yup, in my lasy year of hitchiking (age 17) I woulnd up
    near ther Sault, at Hemlo Mines, looking for miniong
    labourer work, but they were only giving the jobsd to
    union guys bused in from NY state at the time.

    That whole story sounds familiar. Perhaps you once already
    relayed this story for me.

    Then he came o me to say the day shft was too much for his
    elderllyt dad, really, & would I like to take over the
    arcade completely, as he had his hands full with his other
    business.

    That's interesting, and somewhat generous to have been arranged
    for you.


    After paying for my hotel room, I had about the a,me
    amount of money left over each m,ontgh as previous, but
    now I worked 12h00-00h00, plus an hour of cleaning,
    instead of 16h00-00h00+cleaning. Hmmm. . . *LOL*

    I am in a similar dilema with my bookshop.. tonnes of extra
    duties (ie. cleaning) and I can only do it myself. There
    simply isn't the extra cash to pay someone to do something like
    that. I have some shelves that need serious attention - so,
    for that I won't have a choice and need to hire a carpenter.


    By December, t hough, I'd run afoul of some local issues,
    & basically ensured the top local meathead..

    [...]

    I was a twiggy thing, & not up to a fight with a veritable
    psychotically angry monster, so I did the prudent thing &
    fled.

    A couple of dobermans at your side couldn't have helped?! <G>


    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.50
    * Origin: Time moves in one direction, memory in another. -WG- (2:221/1.58)
  • From Daryl Stout@1:2320/33 to George Pope on Sun Sep 19 21:20:00 2021
    George,

    I have a podiatry certified Rn come to my home every 6-7 weeks to trim
    my toes & do a full health check of my feet while she's down there. . . all for $50.

    Not bad...I pay $65 at my clinic. I've had several foot surgeries...arches built in at 11 (I was born without them), then in the last 12 years, I've
    had nails removed off two of the toes off of each foot (after having freak accidents, as I'm so klutzy), plus plantar fasciitis (bone spur) surgery on both feet (done at the same time). Plantar Facsiitis is the most common condition seen by podiatrists.

    When the weather conditions change, the scars on my feet really bother me. The HMO I have is sending a female nurse practitioner by this Friday for an exam...she's going to have fun when she sees my 22 page medlist. <G>

    Had my big toe's nail & matrix/bed removed a few yeares back; my GP
    sent me to a General Surgeon who did it (he died since, & General
    Surgeons just tefer all foot surical stuff to a podiatrist This guy I
    had was exceptional)

    The worst part was the anesthetic they applied before removing the nail.

    If there's one thing I've learned in taking care of medical bills in
    the US for the past 15 years, is never pay the printed cost!

    Shortly after I was discharged from the hospital the first time after the first atrial flutter diagnosis, I turned in the financial assistance form.
    I have not heard a word back from them, so they either wrote it off, or it
    is going through insurance. I surely am not going to bother them about it.

    I've seen a surgery bill knocked down to 20% of the original 4/5 thrown away).

    That happened with another local hospital...they wrote the whole thing off.

    Can't do that here in BC, as that would be practicing law without a license. :P

    Sounds like Groucho Marx as Doctor Quackenbush. He's taking this guy's
    pulse, and quips "Either this man is dead, or my watch is stopped!!". <G>

    IMO, laws are made just to befuddle & require always more lawyer hours
    to resolve the problems they create.

    When I served on jury duty in Little Rock 25 years ago, apparently the lawyers were getting at least $1000 an hour. As a juror, I got $20 a day.

    Daryl

    ... "Do you, Sysop, take this BBS, to be your wedded spouse?"
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  • From George Pope@1:153/757.2 to August Abolins on Wed Sep 22 20:33:30 2021
    Then he came o me to say the day shft was too much for his
    elderllyt dad, really, & would I like to take over the
    arcade completely, as he had his hands full with his other
    business.

    That's interesting, and somewhat generous to have been arranged
    for you.

    Definitely his good deed for a number of years!

    He expl;ained that he didn't need the money it brought in, & didn't have
    the time or interest to be involved in it, so this was the simplest thing.

    At the time I was awed by jhis generosity, bnt since I've recalled that no paperwork was signed (doubt it'd be legal anyway, with me only 17, in ON)

    When I decided to head on home, I just handed the keys over & said sorry & thank you. . .

    & everything reverted back to pre-me!

    I am in a similar dilema with my bookshop.. tonnes of extra
    duties (ie. cleaning) and I can only do it myself. There
    simply isn't the extra cash to pay someone to do something like
    that. I have some shelves that need serious attention - so,
    for that I won't have a choice and need to hire a carpenter.

    They say that choiosing to go independent from hourly wage slave is
    exchanging your 8-hour days(40-hour weeks) for 16-hour days 6 days/week.
    (7, even, for some!)

    I consider myself a freelancer in the area of social justice. I have the
    one steady job I've had since 2006, but only 4 hours/week, but that's
    reliable, so I'm happy keepoing it & counting it as p[art of my portfolio.

    Mostly I'm doing non-profit work for orgs & on my own. I receive a
    goverhnment assistance cheque monthly, so I consider I'm working for the
    people in exchange for the taxes they had no choice but to pay on my
    behalf.

    I'm FT or more, but I nly count tyhem when Ui'm on a project (got
    oneresearcgh project for $30/hr (only 20 hours, though, darn); she asked
    me, trepidatiously, based on her limited budget, "Will you accept
    $30/hour?"; I expected close to minimum wage (then $12) but I maintained
    poker face & said, "It's for a non-profit -- I can make it work."

    My old rate as a freelance computer geek was 2 hours for $150, but I was generous with discounts even of all, especially for seniors & pretty girls)

    I probably averaged $30-$40, as I'd fix whsatever it was fort he flat fewe
    of $150, if I could do it in under 4 hours. Any more, I'd give an estimate
    for the remainder, after fixing the mnost important things for the base
    fee.

    By December, t hough, I'd run afoul of some local issues,
    & basically ensured the top local meathead..
    [...]
    I was a twiggy thing, & not up to a fight with a veritable psychotically angry monster, so I did the prudent thing &
    fled.

    A couple of dobermans at your side couldn't have helped?! <G>

    If I had a couple well-trained ones, I'm sure. .

    Your friend,

    <+]:{)}
    Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to George Pope on Thu Sep 23 08:05:00 2021
    Hello George Pope!

    ** On Wednesday 22.09.21 - 20:33, George Pope wrote to August Abolins:

    He expl;ained that he didn't need the money it brought in,
    & didn't have the time or interest to be involved in it,
    so this was the simplest thing.

    At the time I was awed by jhis generosity, bnt since I've
    recalled that no paperwork was signed (doubt it'd be legal
    anyway, with me only 17, in ON)

    That's what I thought. All that paperwork would have simply fed
    the lawyers. But even a simple written agreement between you
    and him with basic terms of expectation and reward may have
    sufficed. However, I suspect he treated your work as a
    volunteer (ad hoc, or "off the street") and hence no pressure
    to document any changes. In return you simply get enough for
    lodging and living - and in your case -- long enough until you
    got back on your feet.

    I'm FT or more, but I nly count tyhem when Ui'm on a
    project (got oneresearcgh project for $30/hr (only 20
    hours, though, darn); she asked me, trepidatiously, based
    on her limited budget, "Will you accept $30/hour?"; I
    expected close to minimum wage (then $12) but I maintained
    poker face & said, "It's for a non-profit -- I can make it
    work."

    When all is said and done, I don't nearly earn that much at
    all. I can cover expenses reasonably well (depending on the
    retail season) but I don't pocket as much as some people on
    steady guaranteed gov't pensions.


    My old rate as a freelance computer geek was 2 hours for
    $150, but I was generous with discounts even of all,
    especially for seniors & pretty girls)

    I did the odd computer computer thing for $60/hr max. But was
    infrequent and over 8 years ago now.


    I probably averaged $30-$40, as I'd fix whsatever it was
    fort he flat fewe of $150, if I could do it in under 4
    hours. Any more, I'd give an estimate for the remainder,
    after fixing the mnost important things for the base fee.

    Yes.. I mainly worked on software issues: a stuck Windows
    update, going back to a Restore point, removing a virus. If the
    machine could support extra ram, I'd investigate that model and
    top it up if possible.


    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.50
    * Origin: Time moves in one direction, memory in another. -WG- (2:221/1.58)
  • From George Pope@1:153/757.2 to August Abolins on Sun Oct 10 13:05:20 2021
    That's what I thought. All that paperwork would have simply fed
    the lawyers. But even a simple written agreement between you
    and him with basic terms of expectation and reward may have
    sufficed. However, I suspect he treated your work as a
    volunteer (ad hoc, or "off the street") and hence no pressure
    to document any changes. In return you simply get enough for
    lodging and living - and in your case -- long enough until you
    got back on your feet.

    I handled all matters, including colecting the revenue & paying the landlord(utilities included) & suppliers(I sold snacks for some extra, but generally ate whatever I earned that day *LOL*)

    When all is said and done, I don't nearly earn that much at
    all. I can cover expenses reasonably well (depending on the
    retail season) but I don't pocket as much as some people on
    steady guaranteed gov't pensions.

    Fair enough; I'm not one of those that assume, "You have your own business; you must be one of the rich we're supposed to hate"

    & the NDP would deny you even what little you're earning, by taking control & giving you a stipend, amount independent of your actual investment/promotion.

    I compared the preanble of the BDP Constitution with thast of the Communist Pasrty -- hard to tell the difference -- both aim for complete government control of all ownership. (business, home, property, job)

    My old rate as a freelance computer geek was 2 hours for
    $150, but I was generous with discounts even of all,
    especially for seniors & pretty girls)

    I did the odd computer computer thing for $60/hr max. But was
    infrequent and over 8 years ago now.

    Same, was infrequent, more than 12 years ago now.

    It was handy. Now I'm pretty much doing it as a volunteer for pensioner seniors aroundbouts.

    There's the story of this old retired gent(call him Frank) who used to pain for retired ladies.

    One day, a young (30s, 40s) gent from town saw him & asked, "How much would you charge to paint my fence?"

    Frank smiled and asked, "What do you do for a living?"

    "Oh, I'm retired," answered the youngh executive.

    Frank looked him dead in the eye & answered, "Then paint it your own damned self."

    I probably averaged $30-$40, as I'd fix whsatever it was
    fort he flat fewe of $150, if I could do it in under 4
    hours. Any more, I'd give an estimate for the remainder,
    after fixing the mnost important things for the base fee.

    Yes.. I mainly worked on software issues: a stuck Windows
    update, going back to a Restore point, removing a virus. If the
    machine could support extra ram, I'd investigate that model and
    top it up if possible.

    I did some of that, too; loved Belarc Advisor to tell me what kind of RANM they had & how much.

    Typically they only used the computer for email & letters, so I just had to clean up the crud & optimize things (auto updates for antivir, antimalware, & hard disk maintenance)

    Maybe some ABClessons on how to best do their usual tasks.

    Showed one old gent(friend) how to have a Portuguese translator tab open when emailing his Brazilian cousins.

    Those littlet hings that make the computer more fun than chore. . .

    I'd get someone more into the computer by discovering their favorite passtimes, & installing games for such (Bridge, Golf, et al)

    I remember being in my first post secondary course learning computers, & I was playing Solitaire in Windows 3.0 when the instructor appeared at my shoulder asking what I was doing during her lecture; I thought quick & said, "Acclimating myself to the tactile interface device"; she was partly impressed, but made me explain; I showed her how I use all mouse actions in the game (single click, double click, drag); she then assigned playing Solitaire to the class!

    Your friend,

    <+]:{)}
    Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From George Pope@1:153/757.2 to Daryl Stout on Sun Oct 10 15:56:59 2021
    Not bad...I pay $65 at my clinic. I've had several foot surgeries...arches built in at 11 (I was born without them), then in the last 12 years, I've had nails removed off two of the toes off of each foot (after having freak accidents, as I'm so klutzy), plus plantar fasciitis (bone spur) surgery on both feet (done at the same time). Plantar Facsiitis is the most common condition seen by podiatrists.

    Since our taxes are higher, to pay for free medical, that's likely the same cost as my $50.

    When the weather conditions change, the scars on my feet really bother me. The HMO I have is sending a female nurse practitioner by this Friday for an exam...she's going to have fun when she sees my 22 page medlist. <G>

    My wife had this surget on both feet at once as a child; still hurts; one is currently growing & is painful to walk on. It's not considered necessary surgery, so she can't get in during covid restrictions. She found a natural remedy that seems to be working (involving massage & cold) at reducing it.

    Enough she's happy to be back in her Pilates routine.

    Had my big toe's nail & matrix/bed removed a few yeares back; my GP sent me to a General Surgeon who did it (he died since, & General Surgeons just tefer all foot surical stuff to a podiatrist This guy I had was exceptional)

    The worst part was the anesthetic they applied before removing the nail.

    Neither was bad -- I sat there, wide awake, watching it all be done & no pain.

    Years ago, in Emergency, when I kicked a closet door & shattered a big toenail thast dove up into my toe (ouch -- near the torture they used in VietNam to extract info--pulling mails, or shoving bamboo spikes up under them)

    The doctor prepared to yank out tyhe offending chunk of nail. I stopped him, explaining I have hypersensitivity ojn that side & could he pleae anesthetize first. He said it'd be so quick Iu'll nor fee;; I argued, saying since my stroke, it will.

    He sighed angrily & asjked the nurse for 5CCs of some drug. She pulled it out of the closet & stasrted saying, "Dfoctor, you know this is only a t.." wnere he cut her off & ordered her to just bring it & the syringe.

    He drew up a lot of the fluid into the syringe then injected it beside the bro9ken nail (AIIIIIIIIIIIII OOOOOOHHHHH, that hurt!"

    Then he waited a bit (went to check on another patient, so I peeked at the bottle (it's a topical); the SOB was so put out at me daring to argue with his self-declared divine self, he went out of his way to hurt me!

    I wrote a letter of complaint, naming names, times, etc, but heard nothing back .I assume a buddy of his(or he himself) saw my complaint & deleted it.

    Never again; next time I get the right CCs on my letter & follow up with the proper authorities(over the doctor).

    I know a lot more now about medical stuff, that I'll not be easily fooled again.

    Shortly after I was discharged from the hospital the first time after the first atrial flutter diagnosis, I turned in the financial assistance form.
    I have not heard a word back from them, so they either wrote it off, or it is going through insurance. I surely am not going to bother them about it.

    Of course not. It's not for you to revisit until/unless you receive another bill or letter of demand. Hopefully they did just kill it.

    If they have an online billing system, you could discreetly check,but better to just give thanks & move on. .

    That happened with another local hospital...they wrote the whole thing off.

    Too many Canadians have no clue; yes your system is broken, but not as bad in the details as people up here think/say it is.

    I know that most major hospitals/cities require doctors to work so many hours a year pro bono in hospitals or neighbourhood clinics specifically for those who honestly cannot pay.

    Sounds like Groucho Marx as Doctor Quackenbush. He's taking this guy's pulse, and quips "Either this man is dead, or my watch is stopped!!". <G>

    Or the guy who was complaining of the cost to fix a broken bone & the doctor said he'd touch up the xray to show it as fine, for just $200.

    When I served on jury duty in Little Rock 25 years ago, apparently the lawyers were getting at least $1000 an hour. As a juror, I got $20 a day.

    Well, that stipend isn't meant to replace income; it's just a lunch stipend, really or transportation (if you bused in)

    I was called to jury duty for a trial thaty was expected to take 9-12 months of being in seclusion; I wrote back & begged off as I have a family of 4 to support & I have adapted tools at home to deal with my disability. I got a letter back immediately excusing me. My lawyer friend said its easy - they call up usually 10-20X what they need just to be able to excuse for any good reason.

    I'll do my first one some day in the future.

    Your friend,

    <+]:{)}
    Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From George Pope@1:153/757.2 to August Abolins on Tue Oct 12 09:45:12 2021
    Later:
    "Glooo-ooo-ria!!" - Laura Brannigan

    The song got a lot of air-play. I got sick of it pretty quick.

    I have lots like that -- overplayed, oversick of it.

    The Cars' "Who's Gonna Drive You Home" was the big hit when I had the artcade in Nipigon. I had to ban it from the jukebox. They were allowed ONE pl;ay a day, after that, I hit the skip button in back to pass it in whatever queue had been chosen & too bad about your quarter(s) (some tried to queue up multiple in a row)

    They caught on quickly enough.

    I do all my radio on accuradio now -- I can pick any genre from hundreds, & I can skip any song I don't care to hear right now, or I can ban any song or artist from ever playing on my account ever again. . .

    My fave is a blended channel I created: Comedy+Roots of Metal.

    Good background when I'm working. .

    Your friend,

    <+]:{)}
    Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From George Pope@1:153/757.2 to Daryl Stout on Tue Oct 12 09:51:20 2021
    Whoo Hoo!! Traffic In Here!! We needed to wake up the Moderator from
    his echo slumber. <g,d,r>

    Anyone around 50 years ago?

    I was.

    I had arches built into my feet in late May, and I spent that summer with casts from the knees down...having to learn to walk, ride a bike, etc. all over again.

    I can't even imagine! I was loving my bike & walking(somewhat) freedom at that age (in the '70s)

    I lost my freedom to just go & walk at 22, almost 23, in 1990, by that time, I'd had quite the adventurous life, so wasn't boohooing too much over my lot.

    One Sunday the pastor(warned of the week before) asked us to step up to the front & laty down sometghing on the stage that symbolized something we were grateful for. I put my cane up there.

    The pastor asked me to come up & explain this provocative addition to the clutter, & I explained how my sudden disability forced me to take stock & start making some good decisions in my life finally, & how I was stronger as a man than previous to becoming crippled. Of course, I included how it happily knocked me out of my cozy little athiesm cocoon. I've since grown & evolved as I feel led, but I'm still grateful. Attitude of Gratitude opens up a lot of doors in life!

    Your friend,

    <+]:{)}
    Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)