I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Linkee-poo Wednesday July 20

An early short posting because I have a lot to do today. Also sorry yesterday's post apprarently didn't. Computers, what can you do.

"After putting off routine health care for much of the pandemic, Americans are now returning to doctors’ offices in big numbers — a trend that’s starting to show up in higher insurance rates across the country… Health insurers in individual marketplaces across 13 states and Washington D.C. will raise rates an average of 10% next year, according to a review of rate filings by the Kaiser Family Foundation." Granted, they're talking about single digit percentage increases, which are miles ahead of the 15-20% annual increases from the 90s and aughts. But what this is really about is… "The rate increases come as Congress debates whether to extend financial help for consumers through the American Rescue Plan — the $1.9 trillion economic aid package Congress passed last year to combat the economic impacts of the pandemic." Understand that healthcare insurance companies made billions in record profits for the last few years (seriously, just google it). There's not any real pressure for them to increase rates this much. Except to grab more money.

"Nearly five months into its senseless war against Ukraine, Russia has concocted a wild new explanation for why the Kremlin’s plans for a quick takeover fell apart so spectacularly—because Ukrainian troops were turned into superhuman killing machines during 'secret experiments' in American-run biolabs, of course." These were stupid lies back in the 80s, they're even more eyeballing today. (Grokked from John)

Last week… "Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic bill Thursday that would protect the rights of women to travel to other states to access abortion care legally." Cruelty is the point.

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