Case in point:

My doctor (of 4 decades) office apparently was purchased by a private equity group that then set up a medical facility that seems to have combined all the local doctor offices they purchased.

Back in 2018, I called that new facility to make an appointment for my annual physical checkup.

I was greeted by a robot menu, I chose ~make an appointment.~ I was transferred to a ringing phone that was not answered.

I tried again a few days later, with the same result. And again a few days later. Same result.

Keep in mind, before my doctor's office was apparently acquired by private equity, when I called, the call was always answered before the third ring.

As a result of my inability to schedule an appointment with my doctor, I have not had an annual physical exam in six years.

Yeah, healthcare for profit.

Such an improvement.

More from the article...

... The recommendation was outlined in a report commissioned by the Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project, a state-funded group that analyzes traffic stop data.

"The goal was to devise a system that ensures integrity of traffic stop data collection," Jeff Schlanger, founder of IntegrAssure, a national consultant for police practices, recently told the profiling project's board. ...

The report comes as a federal grand jury continues to a criminal investigation into state police ticketing practices after an audit conducted by the profiling board found a "high likelihood" hundreds of state troopers over an eight-year period submitted at least 26,000 false and inaccurate traffic stop data records to the state police computer system. A subsequent report commissioned by Governor Ned Lamont concluded most troopers flagged likely did not intentionally falsify the data, but between 12 and 15 troopers were referred for further investigation to examine potential wrongdoing.

The audit was prompted by CT Insider reports in 2022 about four troopers who were found to have created hundreds of "fictitious" tickets within the state police system to boost their production numbers and look better in the eyes of supervisors. ...

@#3 ... The smart ones are making a killing as influencers.

The rest are looking at porn. ...

And those in between seem to be trying to sell their classmates as slaves?

In addition to listening to the area college stations, I also accumulate some ~assorted tunes~ albums.

From The CD, "The Bottle Let Me Down - Songs For Bumpy Wagon Rides"

Where else can you hear a song like this...

Question to parents:

Do you know what your children are doing online?

@#2 ... This is a huge deal ...

Yup.

... 73% in favor sends a massive signal to other auto manufacturing workers in the South: Yes you can become unionized and have a greater say in your own working conditions. ...

If I may be so bold as to channel (and paraphrase) something that has been said here previously ...

Employees do not join unions because their companies are treating them well.

73%, though, still "unofficial."

But wow.

That is not insignificant.

Wow.

@#159

Wow, it's been a while since I've seen fmr Rep Nunes' name in the news.

@#158 ... The same people who buy DJT stock. ...

I'm not yet convinced to go there at this point.

Given the trading volume of DJT, the buying looks like it may be some wealthy supporter who has a few ten thousands to dispose of for, possibly, some return.

Or, there may be some other manipulation in play...

There's this...

@#15 ... Thoughts? ...

As you may have noticed...

I care little about pop music.

(and proud of that)

:)

A Bay of Pigs redux?

Wish I knew.

More from the article...

... SOUTHCOM told Newsweek, "Given the breadth of investment into logistics infrastructure China has made in the Caribbean, we are concerned that China could task its state-owned enterprises and diaspora to conduct intelligence or influence operations against the U.S. and our partners in the region for military purposes. Those concerns are further heightened when you consider the Chinese Communist Party's practice of targeting, recruiting and bribing officials."

The Chinese embassy did not respond to emails requesting comment on China's relations with Antigua or whether there was an intelligence base in the embassy. A person answering the telephone declined to take questions. ...

More from the article...

... Lopez told NewsNation it was the fifth time her daughter, who is Black, had been subjected to racial slurs by other students at the 89% white Southwick Regional School.

The 13-year-olds alleged to be involved were suspended in February for the Snapchat posts, according to the Hampden County District Attorney's Office.

But after complaints were brought to his attention, D.A. Anthony Gulluni filed criminal charges in March against the students for "hateful, racist online chat."

"Hatred and racism have no place in this community," Gulluni said as he announced the charges weeks after conducting an investigation.

"One who uses just racist terminology doesn't necessarily commit a crime " that is constitutionally protected, as vile as it is," Gulluni said on NewsNation's "Dan Abrams Live." ...

In case my comment was not specific enough. ...

It now seems that Republicans are dictating what ailments and health issues doctors are allowed to treat their (the doctor's) patients for.

Legislators now dictating what medical procedures are legal.

So, if I go to my doctor with COVID symptoms, the republicans could legislate that my doctor could not treat me because COVID isn't "a thing?"

More from the article...

... It handed the UAW its first election win at a car factory in the American South in decades.

Two prior votes at the factory, including in 2019, had failed, after stiff political opposition.

But attitudes toward organised labour appear to be shifting.

The US has seen an increase in strikes and petitions to join unions since the pandemic, drawing in Hollywood actors, Starbucks baristas, tech contractors, healthcare workers, and even college basketball players.

Workers at the only VW factory the US, in Chattanooga, will now be represented by the union to negotiate collectively over issues such as pay and working conditions.

Analysts said the outcome could inspire employees at other factories in the region to take similar steps. ...

Maybe get a bit ethereal with a visit to Iceland ...

@#3 ... Not when they're Cubans and it's Florida. ...

Yup.

Gov DeSantis' opinion seems to change when there is a voting bloc in his state, compared to what he has said on a national level.

Gee, why, oh why, would such a change of opinion like that ever happen?

/s

Taking a [needed?] turn in the tunes... :)

More from the local college station here...

Blues guitarist extraordinaire...

... Conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus are signing up to take shifts to monitor the chamber floor in order to prevent their own party leaders from making unilateral moves that could curb their power. The Freedom Caucus' Floor Action Response Team, shorthanded as "FART," ...

Will there be a new bipartisan coalition to reduce the attempted dictatorship of the Putin Wing of the House Republican Party?

Time will tell...

@#1 ... "So a limited operation seems to have carried a powerful warning " that Israel has the intelligence and assets to strike at will at Iran's beating heart. ...

Let me ask a question here.

The Israeli drones seemed to have hit their targets.

Does Iran have no defense against an aerial drone attack?

I mean, the distance from Israel to Iran should provide Iran with ample warning that there were incoming.

Yet Iran did not appear to be able to stop that infringement.

Stated differently, does Iran need to use proxies against Israel because it cannot protect itself from a direct retaliation?

... Israel still has not officially acknowledged that the attack in Iran in the early hours of Friday morning was its doing. ...

Over the years, Israel has seemed to be a bit reticent regarding their military excursions.

OK, King Missile has a different, ummm, let's say, style to their tunes.

That I have only heard their songs on college radio should be your first clue.

I mean, this one should give you a clue...

@#151 ... Greenwood's publicist previously told the Nashville Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY network, that Elite Source Pro is no longer a partner on the project. He was unable to name the new licensee who is manufacturing the Bible. ...

" Elite Source Pro is no longer a partner on the project. " -- oh, that's not a good sign.

Typically, during a promotional campaign, those behind the campaign do not change with such ambiguity.

OK, let's take a step back here.

This is a fmr President of the United States promoting, likely selling his NIL for, some strange version of the Bible.

OK so far?

And now, those behind that promotion seem to be unable/reluctant to say who is the name of the "new licensee?"

My view at this point, there is no way i would give these people my credit card number. I mean, who would be so reckless with their financial information to give a credit card number to this apparent unknown entity?