The Cost of Dying (CBS 60 Minutes video segment)

Patients' Last Two Months of Life Cost Medicare $50 Billion Last Year; Is There a Better Way?


(CBS)  Every medical study ever conducted has concluded that 100 percent of all Americans will eventually die. This comes as no great surprise, but the amount of money being spent at the very end of people's lives probably will.


Last year, Medicare paid $50 billion just for doctor and hospital bills during the last two months of patients' lives - that's more than the budget of the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Education.


And it has been estimated that 20 to 30 percent of these medical expenditures may have had no meaningful impact. Most of the bills are paid for by the federal government with few or no questions asked.


You might think this would be an obvious thing for Congress and the president to address as they try to reform health care. But what used to be a bipartisan issue has become a politically explosive one - a perfect example of the costs that threaten to bankrupt the country and how hard it's going to be to rein them in.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/19/60minutes/main5711689.shtml

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Bridgeforth Field "makeover"

Day 1 - 11/17 Bridgeforth Field infield "makeover"


Day 2 - 11/18 Bridgeforth Field infield "makeover"


Day 3 - 11/20 Bridgeforth Field infield "makeover"


Day 4 - 11/21 Bridgeforth Field infield "makeover"


Came up with a new "catch-phrase" for the Spring of 2010, let me know what you think?

Come out-n-watch SU Baseball play the best darn game ever played on dirt @ "The Bridge"

For ballplayers, safer days ahead

Kudos to the Winchester Parks and Rec board members and officials for acknowledging the safety concerns with Bridgeforth Field with the start of the regrade on the infield Tuesday by Premier Sports Fields of Bealeton.

Just in the last year, a Misericordia University first baseman lost three teeth, a Handley High School shortstop received a concussion, and a Shenandoah University player received a broken nose that required surgery this fall. Those are injuries that I am aware of as a result of that unsafe infield that was about as safe as playing Russian roulette with baseballs hit at the infielders.

I went to lunch on Tuesday with Bob Benyo, vice president of Premier Sports Fields and discovered that we have several mutual friends in the Bealeton area. I inquired about the price of the regrade and the new sod. Mr. Benyo replied, “Jeff, we cut them a break because the other vice president of Premier Sports Fields’ son, if I recall accurately, attends Shenandoah University and is a member of the football team.”

I was quick to thank Mr. Benyo for their generosity and shook his hand.

To close, a quick shout-out to the students of Handley High School’s carpentry class, under the direction of instructor Jimmy Robertson, who are doing outstanding work on the 32-year-old pressbox and dugouts, along with a new backstop.

Jeff Milburn
Winchester
The Winchester Star
November 20, 2009

Thought for the day!

"Anything that is not of the truth is in the dark"

Is this a sign of the times with the conversion of 2-way traffic on Braddock and Cameron?

Are these pictures attached a view of what the citizenry should expect with the Delivery drivers with the conversion of 2-way traffic on Braddock and Cameron?  I personally do have any issue with the 2-way but someone (a Civil Traffic Engineer) was quick to point out, you forget about the truck traffic, well I witnessed that 1st hand today.

The Civil Traffic Engineer response to these pictures:

 "Someone did not do turning radius minimums before they line painted."


 My only question about the 2-way conversion was ... "If it's not broke, why fix it?"

Thought for the day! Maybe the quote of the year on Healthcare Reform Bill?

Wise man told me just yesterday ...

"Milburn, paper lay still, they can write anything on it"


For the record, the successful farmer said I could share it BUT I could not share his name.  Quote was made locally in 22601 and when it was "googled", it was nowhere to be found on the net.

How 'bout that! :)