Sex & Shenanigans

[UsuallyPresent]

I dunno, I can be snobby but I never let brand loyalty get in the way of enjoying funwholes.

Personally I avoid brands, no matter the funwhole. Seared long pork ain’t my favorite aroma

 

[JustAnotherFlower]

I felt a tingle...Did.. someone say FunWholes? Because they are fuckin' amazing builds!

 

[MischiefMakerAlways]

I am going to get on a capitalist soapbox rant because I see so much of this happening in multiple aspects of our lives. Over the past ten/fifteen years I have watched private equity firms move in to invest in healthcare systems and watched them suck the humanity out of providing care to patients in need. Everything becomes about extracting as much predictable profit as possible. About seven or eight years ago I saw the same thing happen in the housing market.. Private equity firms started buying up single family homes and then progressively started increasing rent and requirements. They set the "market rate" because they have the volumes to do so and there's little to no consumer protections.

You are not crazy

We are living in late stage capitalism

And the government won't act because both parties are getting so much money in donations. There isn't a good faith actor in any of this.

I have problems with organized religion, but the hospital systems were so much more human when the nuns ran them.

100% agree. We have a Catholic & Adventist hospitals in my area. For reasons too long to explain here, I've got quite serious opinions on hospital care. The Catholic & Adventist hospitals are just different. The staff seem happier, the nurses & MA'S are just nicer, the doctors are more at ease. It's just an entirely different, more human focused atmosphere. Juxtaposed against a university hospital, where you feel more specimine than human, and I'd choose a Catholic/Adventist hospital every time, if given the choice!

It feels like it's targeted to block out lower income "working class" families for sure! And I feel like our current landlord equates us with illegal immigrants and wants complete control over knowing what family member is here at all times. We have done things legally even though it takes forever to do so from a third world Muslim non-white country. We will continue to do things legally. Why are we still being punished?!?!?!

Super late to this whole discussion, so I apologize for resuscitating a dead topic.

We recently had to fight back and forth with our insurance and medical provider because the insurance accidentally dropped us for a day and we just so happened to have an appointment that day. It took 8 MONTHS for the bill to be paid. It was one week prior to going to collections when we finally saw the claim processed and here's the part that pissed me off most: the $850 bill was paid for, in FULL by the insurance, for $175. There was $675 of extra BS thrown on the bill to pad it.

How is that ethical? How is that even allowed?!

And God forbid we ever complain about things from this provider; we should count ourselves lucky to be getting healthcare from one of the leading medical organizations in the world.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

100% agree. We have a Catholic & Adventist hospitals in my area. For reasons too long to explain here, I've got quite serious opinions on hospital care. The Catholic & Adventist hospitals are just different. The staff seem happier, the nurses & MA'S are just nicer, the doctors are more at ease. It's just an entirely different, more human focused atmosphere. Juxtaposed against a university hospital, where you feel more specimine than human, and I'd choose a Catholic/Adventist hospital every time, if given the choice!

Back in Australia I had an episode in my early twenties that necessitated me go in to psychiatric care. I was genuinely cared for within the Catholic hospital system and then sent out to a Catholic convalescent hospital. Those experiences have stuck with me. I bring that same spirit to the work I do, which has a lot to do with the above conversation.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

How is that ethical? How is that even allowed?!

Bahaha, so I have a PhD level understanding of this. If you're curious, I'll talk your ear off about it. This is what I do in DC. It's freaking wild to see it up close

There are so many forces at play and power grabs happening. The politics is unbelievable. We're making headway on getting transparency around healthcare costs and speeding up claims processing, but holy hell to hospital systems and insurance companies complain and get in the way of progress...

 

[UnquietDreams]

Bahaha, so I have a PhD level understanding of this.

My first thought (which it often is): "Damn, she has a sexy brain!"

 

[MischiefMakerAlways]

Bahaha, so I have a PhD level understanding of this. If you're curious, I'll talk your ear off about it. This is what I do in DC. It's freaking wild to see it up close

There are so many forces at play and power grabs happening. The politics is unbelievable. We're making headway on getting transparency around healthcare costs and speeding up claims processing, but holy hell to hospital systems and insurance companies complain and get in the way of progress...

I have so many stories, just from my own experiences with my family. Every part of the housing and healthcare systems of the US are absolutely broken.

We have friends that are looking to buy a house. I don't know what he does, but she's a freaking doctor. He's from Nigeria and she's from Ghana. The place they are renting right now should be illegal. Before they got married, she had been renting a place that I know was taking advantage of her. We were the only white people at their wedding and we've become their white family (it's a lot of fun, and sometimes weird ). With that trust, we're now helping them with the home buying process because every single part of the system is trying to exploit them. It's so maddening.

I would absolutely love to hear more about your experience.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

You know what's fun?
Letting people I've worked with for ages eventually in on the fact that I'm a bit of an anti-capitalist, left leaning (in the community rooted Marxist sense), British punk rock loving nerd.
God it's fun to watch them recompute their entire understanding of me right in front of my eyes.
It never gets old.
The projection is wild.

 

[MischiefMakerAlways]

You know what's fun?
Letting people I've worked with for ages eventually in on the fact that I'm a bit of an anti-capitalist, left leaning (in the community rooted Marxist sense), British punk rock loving nerd.
God it's fun to watch them recompute their entire understanding of me right in front of me. It never gets old. The projection is wild.

I'm from the most rigidly conservative part of the US. I still hold some conservative principles, however there are quite a few areas this is not true. I consider myself part of the "Alt-Center." To everyone in my region, they think I'm quite the liberal. My family started talking politics during Thanksgiving, so I just stood up and walked out of the room. I had not had nearly enough to drink to be able to survive hearing their bullshit.

 

[BrendaBear]

….started talking politics …. so I just stood up and walked out of the room.

This is my approach, always.

 

[SalaciousMonkey22]

You know what's fun?
Letting people I've worked with for ages eventually in on the fact that I'm a bit of an anti-capitalist, left leaning (in the community rooted Marxist sense), British punk rock loving nerd.
God it's fun to watch them recompute their entire understanding of me right in front of my eyes.
It never gets old.
The projection is wild.

Yeah.

 

[Bry1313]

View attachment 2434775

I’m also a thigh man

 

[BrendaBear]

I’m also a thigh man

So… that’s like Thiamin but different? Got it!

 

[Bry1313]

You know what's fun?
Letting people I've worked with for ages eventually in on the fact that I'm a bit of an anti-capitalist, left leaning (in the community rooted Marxist sense), British punk rock loving nerd.
God it's fun to watch them recompute their entire understanding of me right in front of my eyes.
It never gets old.
The projection is wild.

I’ve been on the business side of healthcare for much of my career. What’s interesting is at most healthcare companies, everyone below a VP level thinks the US should have a single payer universal coverage system.

 

[MindYaBitness]

Super late to this whole discussion, so I apologize for resuscitating a dead topic.

We recently had to fight back and forth with our insurance and medical provider because the insurance accidentally dropped us for a day and we just so happened to have an appointment that day. It took 8 MONTHS for the bill to be paid. It was one week prior to going to collections when we finally saw the claim processed and here's the part that pissed me off most: the $850 bill was paid for, in FULL by the insurance, for $175. There was $675 of extra BS thrown on the bill to pad it.

How is that ethical? How is that even allowed?!

And God forbid we ever complain about things from this provider; we should count ourselves lucky to be getting healthcare from one of the leading medical organizations in the world.

After my spouses 2nd round of cancer, even though we used in network doctors & facilities, our insurance refused to pay the contracted rate. We landed with 50K+ in debt when our out of pocket maximum was supposed to be 5K per year. Insurance is evil by it's very nature.

 

[MindYaBitness]

You know what's fun?
Letting people I've worked with for ages eventually in on the fact that I'm a bit of an anti-capitalist, left leaning (in the community rooted Marxist sense), British punk rock loving nerd.
God it's fun to watch them recompute their entire understanding of me right in front of my eyes.
It never gets old.
The projection is wild.

I know this feeling well!

 

[BrendaBear]

Insurance is evil by it's very nature.

https://media1.tenor.com/m/mnl0OlDCLX4AAAAd/hallelujah-amen.gif

 

[aussiegeekygal]

I’ve been on the business side of healthcare for much of my career. What’s interesting is at most healthcare companies, everyone below a VP level thinks the US should have a single payer universal coverage system.

Haha. That's a fascinating observation.

I think it's because by VP level you've started to understand the consequences of vertical integration within these systems. A single payer system feels like a sensible solution to that particular problem but there are other policy levers and guidance the feds can actually provide that don't necessitate such absolute thinking.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

I know this feeling well!

That's why I love you

 

[Bry1313]

Haha. That's a fascinating observation.

I think it's because by VP level you've started to understand the consequences of vertical integration within these systems. A single payer system feels like a sensible solution to that particular problem but there are other policy levers and guidance the feds can actually provide that don't necessitate such absolute thinking.

No, it’s because the current system pays them $350k+ per year plus equity, and they have to feel they are worth the money.

 

[MindYaBitness]

I'm from the most rigidly conservative part of the US. I still hold some conservative principles, however there are quite a few areas this is not true. I consider myself part of the "Alt-Center." To everyone in my region, they think I'm quite the liberal. My family started talking politics during Thanksgiving, so I just stood up and walked out of the room. I had not had nearly enough to drink to be able to survive hearing their bullshit.

We talked politics at Thanksgiving, and it was lively & respectful conversation. I don't have a frame of reference for angry family politics, it's so far out of my paradigm as to be almost a myth. My oldest two are very, very different politically, you'd be shocked to find that they came from the same parents. I'm grateful that they were raised to first seek to understand, and speak to be understood. Maybe someday that'll change, but for now I enjoy the deep conversations that it produces.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

No, it’s because the current system pays them $350k+ per year plus equity, and they have to feel they are worth the money.

There's that, too

 

[aussiegeekygal]

We talked politics at Thanksgiving, and it was lively & respectful conversation. I don't have a frame of reference for angry family politics, it's so far out of my paradigm as to be almost a myth. My oldest two are very, very different politically, you'd be shocked to find that they came from the same parents. I'm grateful that they were raised to first seek to understand, and speak to be understood. Maybe someday that'll change, but for now I enjoy the deep conversations that it produces.

We talked a little too.
It kind of came to a grinding halt when they started talking about illegal immigrants and I answered with "you mean, like me?".
They were kinda shocked to learn I was one of them
I think I ruined their fun...

 

[MindYaBitness]

That's why I love you

There are pieces of my life that I don't share here. However, I'm certain I'd get the same reaction, or, let's be honest, worse because people are very brave behind a keyboard. To watch psychological dissonance wash over them as they try to reconcile who they've known for years against the stereotypes they're so confident are true, is often either entertaining or results in the dissolution of the acquaintance. I laugh, because what else can I do

 

[MischiefMakerAlways]

After my spouses 2nd round of cancer, even though we used in network doctors & facilities, our insurance refused to pay the contracted rate. We landed with 50K+ in debt when our out of pocket maximum was supposed to be 5K per year. Insurance is evil by it's very nature.

Yeah, my parents went into debt for nearly $1M because of so many issues with my brother. And that was by 1990, despite having insurance. They bought their house from my grandmother, so they never had a mortgage. They liquidated every asset they could, and they both worked a full time job and part time ones on the side. When my grandmother passed in 2004, my parents owed the estate money because they hadn't been able to pay their debts. I remember having food dropped on our porch in paper bags by anonymous benefactors. Almost all of my toys were hand-me-downs from cousins, and I never wore new clothes as a child.

Because insurance.