Author: DOuG pRATt

Home Despot

Today’s Hagar the Horrible

The rise of socialism is why “nobody works, nobody gives a damn,” Bernie Marcus said in an interview with the Financial Times Thursday. “‘Just give it to me. Send me money. I don’t want to work — I’m too lazy, I’m too fat, I’m too stupid.'”

What are Marcus’ definitions of “nobody” and “socialism?” His disdain of working people is straight out of Ayn Rand’s fantasy-romance novels. But he also distrusts the college-educated. What an attitude.

Marcus is actually asking, “Why won’t people work for whatever wages employers are willing to offer?” It’s the same, old tired party line that’s been used by conservatives for generations.

You would think Marcus admires the desperate immigrants coming from Latin America, who are willing to work hard at any job for below minimum wage. But of course he hates them too, and he supported Trump’s efforts at closing the southern border.

As successful and experienced as Marcus is, in his final years he has learned nothing. He cannot see how thoughtless, simplistic, and limiting his thinking is. Here are more parting shots from the 93-year-old crank who co-founded Home Depot.

https://news.yahoo.com/home-depots-93-old-cofounder-221522799.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/nobody-works-nobody-gives-damn-anymore-home-depot-bernie-marcus-2022-12

The Place Where Nothing is Real

Glass Onion the movie is, of course, a reference to the song “Glass Onion” on the Beatles’ so-called White Album. The movie is a lot of fun, with Daniel Craig reprising his role from Knives Out. A parallel between Craig’s character, consulting detective Benoit Blanc, and Sherlock Holmes, is revealed in a cameo appearance by another British actor.

The premise of the movie borrows from Agatha Christie’s famous story “Ten Little Indians,” which was retitled “And There Were None” in the United States. The reference to “Indians” was itself changed from something else, as explained in the Wikipedia entry for the story.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_Then_There_Were_None

The movie also borrows from the video game Myst, which is coming up on its 30th anniversary. The comparison is made explicit in a 3D tour of Glass Onion Island.

The island doesn’t exist, but the special effects making it seem like a real place are utterly convincing.

Taking the virtual island tour doesn’t require a Netflix account.
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/glass-onion-knives-out-island

Well Blow Me – Down!

Way back during the Dubya years, I mentioned a perceived sadistic streak in some of the Famous studio cartoons.

Popeye’s Alien Abduction

"Popeye, the Ace of Space" (1953)
“Popeye, the Ace of Space” (1953)

In “Popeye, the Ace of Space” Olive isn’t present to be sexually assaulted by Bluto, which is the premise for most of the cartoons. Another example of the boys going at it without Olive being caught in the middle is “Friend or Phony” from 1952.

It makes sense that Bluto is dying as a result of Popeye’s addiction to his performance-enhancing drug of choice. But you have to likewise wonder how Popeye has survived Bluto’s ultra violence.

Here’s the cartoon, with the ever-naive Popeye being a sucker for Bluto’s never-ending scheming.

Unclear Medicare

What is a wellness visit under Medicare Part B? Isn’t it an annual physical? No, it isn’t. That much is certain, but beyond that who knows? This video is supposed to explain the distinction.

Well, that clears nothing up. Notice how a wellness visit is annual, but a physical is routine? Uh, aren’t physicals supposed to be annual? There’s a weak explanation of what a routine physical isn’t, but not what it is.

Last year, coverage for my “welcome to Medicare” visit was denied, because the doctor’s office used the billing code for a routine physical. Knowing for certain that the initial preventive physical exam is covered by Medicare, I went through some hassles but eventually got it straightened out and the billing statement was cancelled.

This year I was once again billed by the medical practice. There were a number of things that Medicare paid for, but there was a line item that matched the amount the medical practice stated I owed. BCBS Medex paid only $8, which seemed like an odd amount. I called BCBS and all I got from the rep was, “yes, we paid $8.” Hmm. Okay, so I paid the bill for the amount I owed, because I assumed my visit was a physical. Doing that had the unfortunate effect of hiding the itemized bill from view on the Epic Systems Patient Gateway. What’s the point in doing that? Next time I’ll print it out before paying anything.

Then I watched the video shown above and called BCBS back, hoping to get more information. After the (different) rep reviewed the bill she said, “That was an annual wellness visit. I see this mistake all the time. You shouldn’t owe anything.” She put me on hold and called my doctor’s office directly. When she got back on the line I was told the bill would be re-submitted to Medicare, and assuming it goes through I should receive a refund.

There’s more information at this link and, frankly, it’s no more helpful than the video. Unless I’m missing something that’s less than obvious, it still doesn’t provide a definition for a “routine physical” under Medicare Part B.

https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/preventive-services/medicare-welflness-visits.html

The video is right about one thing — there’s confusion surrounding these definitions and their associated billing codes. So what, exactly, is a routine physical?