This is off topic for this blog, but hey, its my party and I can cry if I want to.
So I went in for my normal doctor appointment recently. Here is "my doctor" that I only see for 20 minutes a year. This is someone supposedly that I entrust my health concerns with but if I dare take more than 10 minutes in his presence, I get this distinct feeling of discontent on his part. This is the guy that I have to have sign off on anything in order for the insurance to cover it.
And if I am in an emergency situation, can I talk to him?
No, I must go to an emergency room and deal with complete strangers. And then, after the emergency is taken care of, he walks into the hospital room like he was in charge of the situation all along. If I was an ER doc, I would unionize and force my recognition into the situation.
I find it interesting that in our modern healthcare, that I really don't have a doctor in a personal way. I have a system, a system that is being controlled by the dictator of insurance. I told my insurance representative one time that "I don't have a doctor, but an insurance company." She took a step back and told me that my "health care is physician directed." If this is so, then why does my doctor's office have a sign posted at the check in desk stating that every health insurance is different so it is the patient's responsibility to determine if what the doctor is going to do is going to be covered. Why am I responsible financially if my "physician directed" me to do something and then the insurance won't cover it?
I am so tempted to pull out the cell phone and call my insurance company one day in front of my doctor to get their approval on whatever he is attempting to do. Or maybe while I am lying there in the ER, I must be wheeled outside (can't use a cell phone in the hospital.) to contact the insurance company. Oh, wait, its not inside business hours. I can call that free nurse line and all they say is go to the ER. Oh, wait, I AM ALREADY THERE!!!
This is just a ludicrous system, I have a insurance system that has so much double talk due to lawyers protecting them and a doctors office that has lawyers protecting them with their small print that you have to sign off on. I am paying hard earned money for both of these entities that are trying so hard to cover their tails that they are quickly becoming of little value. So do I need a lawyer to come with me to the office?
I can see it in the near future. Right off the lobby in every doctors building will be a personal counsel service that will attend your office visit. Of course, they will have their own document that covers their tails as well.
a lot of truth is heard in the ambience - sharing thoughts and ideas
So who is this . .
- ambientchatter
- somewhere in the middle, United States
- Been in this audio profession for awhile now. . thought it was time to let the world know what actually goes on in this head.
I figure a little about myself is in order. Because, who would want to listen to myself rant. I know that I may not.
I have been in the professional audio world for over 20 years. It is tough sometimes to determine exactly when this "professional" starts from when you start doing audio. I was doing audio as far back grade school and running the events all through jr high and high school in my school, church, and a summer camp that my family attended every year.
So putting a date on this is hard. Maybe it was when I worked with more than 16 channels on a console. Oh that day . . I layed my paws for the first time on a 24 channel console. I was overwhelmed. Knobs everywhere. That was 1986. Already had my own cassette 4 track and produced a little "album" with a sax player friend. He sold at least 15 copies of that cassette.
I have spent the bulk of my experience in the non-profit/church arena. I know that you touring guys out there may not consider that real. But I worked for years with over 40 inputs doing a completely new show every weekend with the same quality expectations that you have with doing the same show night after night.
I did do a year and a half of "touring". Small PA with a single artist, doing a different public school or church each day. I was also the driver and guitar tech. I drove across the US at least 4 times in that stint. Did the "event" in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and had my next "event" in Jacksonville, Florida, USA 5 days later once (drove 90% of that myself due to a "helper" driver that couldn't drive more than 2 hours before having to stop). Heck, how many people can say that they burnt their road vehicle to the ground out in the desert between Needles, CA and Kingman, AZ midday in July. Literally, flames, everything. Rent a UHaul, load the equipment and do a gig in Phoenix that evening. (more on that later)
I was an early digital adopter. Bought first generation BSS Soundweb and Innovason later on. Built a studio with Yamaha 02R's version 1 with 4 ADATS for the decks. Oh the days. . .
I have done Live PA, Recording (both studio and live tracking), Mastered many albums, TV post, TV live to satellite, Film shoots, and "film style" video shoots. Done football arenas, Soccer stadiums in Africa, countless auditoriums, and way too many school gymnasiums.
So I think that I should have some things that might prove interesting and possibly helpful. Don't know exactly what this will turn into but hopefully, it will be an interesting read.
I have been in the professional audio world for over 20 years. It is tough sometimes to determine exactly when this "professional" starts from when you start doing audio. I was doing audio as far back grade school and running the events all through jr high and high school in my school, church, and a summer camp that my family attended every year.
So putting a date on this is hard. Maybe it was when I worked with more than 16 channels on a console. Oh that day . . I layed my paws for the first time on a 24 channel console. I was overwhelmed. Knobs everywhere. That was 1986. Already had my own cassette 4 track and produced a little "album" with a sax player friend. He sold at least 15 copies of that cassette.
I have spent the bulk of my experience in the non-profit/church arena. I know that you touring guys out there may not consider that real. But I worked for years with over 40 inputs doing a completely new show every weekend with the same quality expectations that you have with doing the same show night after night.
I did do a year and a half of "touring". Small PA with a single artist, doing a different public school or church each day. I was also the driver and guitar tech. I drove across the US at least 4 times in that stint. Did the "event" in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and had my next "event" in Jacksonville, Florida, USA 5 days later once (drove 90% of that myself due to a "helper" driver that couldn't drive more than 2 hours before having to stop). Heck, how many people can say that they burnt their road vehicle to the ground out in the desert between Needles, CA and Kingman, AZ midday in July. Literally, flames, everything. Rent a UHaul, load the equipment and do a gig in Phoenix that evening. (more on that later)
I was an early digital adopter. Bought first generation BSS Soundweb and Innovason later on. Built a studio with Yamaha 02R's version 1 with 4 ADATS for the decks. Oh the days. . .
I have done Live PA, Recording (both studio and live tracking), Mastered many albums, TV post, TV live to satellite, Film shoots, and "film style" video shoots. Done football arenas, Soccer stadiums in Africa, countless auditoriums, and way too many school gymnasiums.
So I think that I should have some things that might prove interesting and possibly helpful. Don't know exactly what this will turn into but hopefully, it will be an interesting read.
Sites that I frequent. . .
- Vacations to Go - Their 90 day ticker for cruises is very hard to beat
- Worry Free Vacations - Cheap vacation site I have used many times, but seems to be going away soon
- Children's Safe Drinking Water Project - I am impressed with this PUR product
- Flyer Talk - forums for frequent flying programs and other travel stuff
- Medic Batteries - Inexpensive battery supplier that I have used for years
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment