Links and Minifeatures 08 26 Friday

From my recent adventure in hospital, I cannot pass up the opportunity to say this: Just because you've got a MD degree or have been hired by some hospital somewhere doesn't mean you are some sort of omniscient, omnipotent deity. If you have a problem discussing care with patients, paying attention to that patient's chart for relevant information, giving alternatives, justifying what you think is the best course of action to the patient, and just plain paying attention and attempting to treat the patient with common courtesy, then go get a job as a mechanic. You might actually be good at that. No matter how technically competent you may be, if you can't do customer service you shouldn't be in medicine. 'Nuff said.



(For those in San Diego, my most recent bad experience with Scripps is not my only one. The last time I went there was almost as bad. This time part of the blame falls on a Kaiser physician, but only part. The fact that Kaiser works with Scripps gets number one billing on my "Reasons I may want to leave Kaiser" list. When I was selling health care, I used to recommend Kaiser to clients even though it meant I didn't get a commission. I still like Kaiser, but their contracts with Scripps are a large counterweight to that, and since I have a health problem that has caused Kaiser to refer me to Scripps twice in the last year or so, this consideration looms large in my mind).

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I wonder if this is what causes earth's magnetic field to die out and reverse polarity every so often?



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If 'Bubble' Bursts, Legacy of Greenspan May Deflate. I am not one of Greenspan's bigger fans. By and large he's done a decent job. But he's got a banker's attitude, not that of someone trying to foster sustainable economic growth. He gives way too much importance to inflation worries, and this is part of what caused the 2000 recession, and what set up the subsequent events, including the current housing bubble.



On a related topic: Greenspan: Investments Won't Soar Forever. Why not? It works for banks. Cheap shot, I know, and not entirely true. Nonetheless, I wouldn't want to be too heavy into stuff with explicit dollar values right now.



This is one reason I'm actualy recommending 30 year fixed rate loans, something I never thought I'd do.





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This is just weird.



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Here's something for discussion. The Gold double eagles in question were never legally issued, meaning that they are stolen government property. On the other hand, we certainly have the precedent of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel, which was likewise never officially issued, yet six are known to exist, and the Treasury hasn't confiscated them.



Okay, so the gold was US taxpayer property. How about if the owner reimburses the US mint for the face value plus interest. The government charges and pays 7% interest, and it's been 72 years, so it's about 130.5 times face value, or $26,101.29. Anybody got a better idea?



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This is just plain incorrect, as I explain in my article on Pre-qualification. A pre-qual or pre-approval is a waste of a piece of paper. They are feel good documents that mean nothing.



While we're dealing with free advice from journalists, there's this article. Repeat after me: Not all mortgage loans require points. Not all mortgage loans require points. Not all mortgage loans require points. Unless you've screwed your finances up to where you're in a subprime situation, most folks are better off not paying points, as I go into in this article.



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Captain's Quarters has more on a third source breaking anonymity on Able Danger. I'm still willing - eager - to hear evidence. But I'm afraid that at this point in time I'm inclined to believe these military officers, and not the 9/11 commission. Effing political hacks playing at effing political damage control. If true, we have a factual replacement for the mythical meme of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. Just when I didn't think my disgust meter could go any higher.



At least we're going to get Senate hearings on the subject.



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The Bush administration proposed higher fuel economy standards for SUVs and minivans. The Clinton Administration resisted all efforts for eight years. Explain to me again how the Bush administration is anti-environmentalist and a tool of big oil? Seems to me the evidence points the other way.



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Captain's Quarters tells us about The Mom-He-Hit-Me-Back Accusation. I've been saying the Israelis are selling the Palestinians rope. One of these days, they're likely to find themselves unsupported at the end of all the rope the Israelis are willing to sell.



The Palestinians are claiming that the occupation of Gaza still isn't over.



Palestinians tells Israel: Go away but build us hospitals



Mark Steyn delivers the knockout punch of reality.



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Micahel Barone is suggesting the President start doing "fireside chats" a la FDR. Interesting idea, but I'm not certain it wouldn't backfire. President Bush himself is too much of a gentleman, not is the media as eager to give time to the President as it once was - particularly not Republican presidents and for things that could be seen as political campaigning (remember McCain-Feingold). Mr. Barone has probably forgotten hundreds of times as much about politics as I will ever know. But my gut tells me he may be wrong on this one.



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This prank was funny. I also would like to know how he can be faulted for distracting from official services. He didn't tell them he was an escaped prisoner. Everything he did is perfectly legal. The Wal-Mart clerks jumped to conclusions (mind you, I'm glad they did, but still, they were false conclusions). HT to Opinion Journal



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La Shawn Barber has a good piece up about the collapse of the Black Family. I think it's past time to generalize Daniel Patrick Moynihan's classic report to all families. All of the metrics are worse now than what had him alarmed way back then.



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An excellent examination and debunking of the reasons given for the liberal bias in Academia. HT Volokh Conspiracy



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If you want to know just how wrongly the New York Times is spinning the news, read this and then read this. HT Powerline.



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Gonna buy five copies for my mother! Misha wants his name on a fatwa. Me, I think actual competition for a fatwa is just plain silly under the 'tempting fate' department. Misha et al are each individually worth more than a hundred 'splodeydopes. And the 'splodeydopes might accidentally do something competent and succeed.



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Armies of Liberation has an article on press intimidation in Yemen. It's even against the Yemeni constitution, but it's being ignored.



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If this is a hoax, it's a dangerous one. NOW is going to put out a fatwa for just considering it. They'll hang their cojones right next to Lawrence Summers'. HT Chrenkoff



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Dean's World compares the Iranian government to, well, democracies, and then contrasts it with proposals for Iraq. I don't see much of a similarity. Kind of like Spain 1492 versus United States 1795. One run by a religion, the other has space for a religion, but not much more.



Looks like I dropped by Iraq the Model at precisely the right time! They are reporting agreement on a proposed Irqi constitution! He also had a previous article on the political dynamics involved.



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Supposedly, Michael Moore is in a celebrity weight loss center. Iowahawk has all the details. Do not click with beverages nearby.



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Pejman Yousefzadeh has moved from his old site to A Chequer-Board of Nights & Days.



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Please go check out Michael Yon as often as you have the time. He's telling the boots on the ground and eyes in the neighborhood story of Iraq. And hit his tipjar if you can afford to do so.