#young star health insurance policy

[naukrisambad]

Guide to Check Status of Your Health Insurance Policy

A Guide to Checking the Status of Your Health Insurance Policy: Ensuring Peace of Mind and Security: Once you’ve invested in a health insurance policy, it’s essential to stay informed about its status to ensure that you and your loved ones are adequately protected in times of need. Whether you’re curious about your coverage details, premium payments, or policy renewal, checking the status of…

[mariacallous]

It’s the most startling thing I’ve seen in this year’s presidential campaign – the astoundingly large gap between how young men and young women plan to vote this November. Among women under age 30, an overwhelming 67% plan to vote for Kamala Harris, while just 29% say they’ll back Donald Trump. But among young men, a majority – 53% – plan to vote for Trump, while 40% say they’ll support Harris, according to a New York Times/Sienna College poll. That’s an astonishing 51-percentage-point gender gap.

It’s easy to understand why so many young women favor Harris – she has an inspiring life story, champions reproductive freedom and would break the biggest glass ceiling of all by becoming the first female president. But I’m mystified why so many young men back Trump.

Many of them seem to like Trump’s machismo. They like that he talks tough. They see him as an icon of traditional manhood. But all this raises an unavoidable question: should Trump be looked to as an icon of manhood considering that he boasted of grabbing women’s genitals, was found liable for sexual assault and had an affair with an adult film star soon after his wife gave birth? That shouldn’t be anyone’s model of manhood.

Many young men seem to admire Trump’s king-of-the-jungle vibe: he roars, he bellows, he boasts that no one can ever beat him (unless they cheat). But when you cut through Trump’s tough talk and look at the record, it becomes clear that Trump did very little for young men in his four years as president.

Whoops, I should note that if you’re a young man making more than $1m a year, Trump did do a lot for you, thanks to his colossal tax cuts for the richest 1%. But for the more than 99% of young men who don’t make $1m a year, sorry, Trump didn’t do diddly for you, other than cut your taxes a wee bit, a tiny fraction of the tax cuts that he gave to the richest Americans.

I recognize that many young men feel uncomfortable about the Democratic party, partly because some Democrats unfortunately treat men as a problem – and sometimes as the problem. If the Democrats were smart, they’d see that young men – like every other group in society – have problems that they need help with, problems like affording a home, finding a good-paying job, obtaining health insurance, affording college and having enough money to raise a family.

Regardless of how you feel about Harris, the truth is that her policies will do far more for young men than Trump’s policies will. It’s not even close. She is serious about lifting up young men and young women, and she has plans to do so.

Unlike Trump, Harris will help with soaring rents and home prices. She has pledged to build 3m new homes to help drive down housing prices. In another big step to make housing more affordable, she plans to give a $25,000 subsidy to first-time home buyers. Unlike Trump, Harris is also attacking the problem of high grocery prices – she has promised to crack down on price-gouging at the supermarket.

For many young men, health coverage and high health costs are a problem. On those matters, Trump will only make things worse. He has repeatedly promised to repeal Obamacare. That would be a disaster for millions of young men and women because they would no longer be able to be on their parents’ health plan until age 26. What’s more, repealing Obamacare will push up healthcare prices.

Many young people complain about their mountains of student debt. Trump won’t help on that; he has condemned the idea of forgiving student loans. In contrast, Harris wants to expand Biden’s debt cancellation program, which is hugely popular with young Americans. What’s more, Trump backed huge cuts in student aid – a move that would make it harder for young people to afford college. Harris is eager to make college more affordable by increasing student grants. Not only that, she is looking to what Tim Walz, her running mate, has done as Minnesota’s governor. He has made Minnesota’s state universities and community colleges free for students from middle-class and lower-income families.

If you’re a young man frustrated by how little your job pays, you should know that Trump – doing a big favor for his corporate allies – did nothing to raise the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum wage. Harris strongly supports raising the minimum wage.

Trump has made two big promises to make your life more affordable. Without giving details, he says he will cut auto insurance prices nationwide in his first 100 days in office. He also says he will cut energy and electricity prices in half during his first year in office. If you believe those far-fetched promises, then you’ll probably believe me when I say I have a bridge to sell you.

If you’re a young father or if you hope to have a family someday, you should know that Harris’s policies will do far more for you than Trump’s. Recognizing how expensive it is to raise a family, Harris has called for creating a children’s tax credit of $3,000 per child per year and $6,000 for a newborn.

To improve work-family balance, Harris has long pushed to enact paid family and medical leave so that people can take much-needed paid time off to spend with their newborns or care for sick parents or children. (Most Republicans oppose a paid leave law because their corporate donors oppose it.) Trump doesn’t have similar pro-family policies – his main policy proposals are huge tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-rich and large tariffs on imports that will dangerously push up inflation.

Although many young Americans don’t realize it, Biden and Harris have worked hard to create good-paying jobs for those who don’t go to college. Biden and Harris fought to enact three important pieces of legislation – an infrastructure bill, a green energy bill and a computer chips bill – that will create about 1m construction jobs, factory jobs and other jobs across the US, many of them unionized jobs with strong benefits.

If you’re one of the many young people at Starbucks, REI, Apple or elsewhere who support unionizing as a way to increase your pay and improve your working conditions, you should know that Harris is a strong supporter of unions and enthusiastically backs legislation to make it easier to unionize. But billionaire Trump dislikes labor unions. When he was president, he and his appointees did dozens of things, large and small, to weaken unions and create roadblocks for workers seeking to unionize.

There’s no denying that Trump’s tough talk makes many young men feel good. But tough talk is cheap. It won’t help anyone pay the rent, afford college or raise a family. Harris doesn’t talk as tough as Trump, but her record and her policies make undeniably clear that she will do far more for America’s young men and women than Trump will.

I don't agree with every point he makes here, and I also don't think a lot of young men are voting based on rational and objective things like whose policies will benefit them most. But I still thought this was an interesting read.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Charlotte Alter at Time Magazine:

The soundtrack suggested a Beyoncé concert. The light-up bracelets evoked the Eras Tour. And the exuberant crowd—more than 14,000 strong, lining up in the rain—resembled the early days of Barack Obama. Inside a Philadelphia arena on Aug. 6, Vice President Kamala Harris was greeted with a kind of reception a Democratic presidential candidate hasn’t gotten in years. Fans packed into overflow spaces, waving homemade signs made of glitter and glue as drumlines roared. When Harris introduced her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the cheering lasted more than a minute.

If you’d predicted this scene a month ago to anyone following the race, they would never have believed you. But Harris has pulled off the swiftest vibe shift in modern political history. A contest that revolved around the cognitive decline of a geriatric President has been transformed: Joe Biden is out, Harris is in, and a second Donald Trump presidency no longer seems inevitable. Democrats resigned to a “grim death march” toward certain defeat, as one national organizer put it, felt their gloom replaced by a jolt of hope. Harris smashed fundraising records, raking in $310 million in July. She packed stadiums and dominated TikTok, offering a fresh message focused on the future over the past. Volunteers signed up in droves. Trump’s widening leads across the battleground states evaporated. Over the span of a few weeks in late July and early August, Harris became a political phenomenon. “Our campaign is not just a fight against Donald Trump,” she told the cheering crowd in Philadelphia. “Our campaign is a fight for the future.”

Where has this Kamala Harris been all along? For years, Democratic officials questioned her political chops, pundits mocked her word salads, and her polling suggested limited appeal. Her performance in the 2020 presidential primary was wooden, and her turn as Biden’s No. 2 did little to inspire confidence. Even this summer, as party insiders chattered about possible replacements if Biden stepped aside, “it was explicit from some of the major donors that she can’t win,” says Amanda Litman, the co-founder of Run for Something, an organization that trains young Democrats to run for office. “They didn’t think people were ready to elect someone like her.” Harris may still be the underdog. Trump has arguably the clearer path to 270 electoral votes and an edge on the issues that voters say are most important to them. Harris will have to answer for the Biden Administration’s record, including on inflation and border security. Republicans are casting her as a coastal elite, pointing to positions she took in the 2020 primary—arguing for gun buybacks, a ban on fracking, and an overhaul of the health-insurance system—that may indeed be too liberal to win over many of the swing voters who decide elections. Harris has yet to do a single substantive interview or to explain her policy shifts. (Her campaign denied a request for an interview for this story.) She has to repair ruptures in the party coalition, galvanizing the Black, Hispanic, Arab American, and young voters who migrated away from Biden. Though her early polling numbers are far better than Biden’s were, she lags his 2020 support with some key demographic groups she needs to win.

Harris has less than 90 days to prove that she can convert the momentum of her successful launch into a tough, smart operation capable of beating a former President with a dedicated base of support and a knack for commanding the stage. She inherited a campaign infrastructure and policy record from her predecessor, but the energy is all hers. Picking Walz as a running mate over more conventional choices signals a belief that this race is as much about feelings as it is about fundamentals. Harris’ brand shift—the happy-warrior attitude, the viral memes, the eye roll at Republican “weirdos”—has already done what no Trump opponent has ever been able to do: snatch the spotlight away from him.

She may seem like an overnight sensation, but Harris’ moment was years in the making. Quietly, her small team of top aides had been laying the groundwork for a future presidential run. After the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, the Vice President added reproductive rights to her portfolio. Abortion was never a comfortable issue for Biden, a devout Catholic, but it was a natural fit for his No. 2. Harris believed that with Roe gone, Republicans would turn their sights to restricting both birth control and IVF. In the months after Dobbs, she traveled the U.S., talking about abortion rights as a matter of “reproductive freedom.” As far back as the 2022 midterms, aides say, she argued for making this the core of the party’s national message, even as the White House focused on jobs and the economy.

[...] The list was intended for 2028. But when Biden dropped out on July 21 and quickly endorsed Harris, it was instantly pressed into service. The Vice President—clad in a Howard University sweatshirt, munching pizza with anchovies—spent the next 10 hours on the phone, dialing delegates and wrangling endorsements. A day later, the nomination was all but hers. Even though other presidential hopefuls had ties to swing states or big donors, “the list was the thing that we had that they didn’t,” says a top aide. “It wasn’t a fairy godmother waving a magic wand.”

Harris’ ability to sew up the nomination so quickly was a triumph of work ethic and political dexterity that foreshadowed what was to come. “To consolidate the Democratic Party in a matter of hours, to do as many visible events and establish that presence without putting a foot wrong, is a feat,” says Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary who ran against Harris for the 2020 nomination and was a finalist to become her running mate. “I don’t think anybody expected her to be so flawless.” With Biden no longer atop the ticket, the moribund Democratic grassroots came to life. Harris was capable of delivering a message that never felt quite right under Clinton or Biden: that theirs was the party of the future, and Trump was of the past. Her campaign raised $200 million in the first week, in what it said was the best 24 hours of any candidate in presidential-campaign history. More than 38,000 people registered on Vote.org in the 48 hours after she became the presumptive nominee, eclipsing the voter-registration surge encouraged by Taylor Swift last year. Within a week, Harris erased Trump’s polling dominance in key states, turning a burgeoning landslide into a dead heat.

[...] The shift is perhaps most visible in the digital sphere. While millions of hardcore Democrats would crawl over broken glass to keep Trump from re-election, less reliable voters in Gen Z are especially attuned to online trends. For months, President Biden’s online supporters have been on the defensive about his support for Israel’s war against Hamas. Comments about Gaza flooded pro-Biden content posted to social platforms, making it difficult to create what digital strategists call a “permission structure” to support him. To many, it evoked the online mobs who would mock Clinton supporters in 2016, preventing her from building traction on social media. “In 2016, if you wanted to be an online supporter of Hillary Clinton, you did it in a private Facebook group,” says Litman. “In 2024, you blast it on TikTok, and you’re part of the K-Hive and you make your username the coconut tree.” Even if Washington was taken by surprise, the energetic fighter of the past two weeks matches the Harris whom allies say they have known for years. Louise Renne, a former San Francisco city attorney, recalls that when Harris took over the city’s interest in adoption cases in the DA’s office, she brought an armful of teddy bears to court on her first day. Andrea Dew Steele, a donor-adviser who snacked on wine and cheese with Harris as they typed up her first political bio sheet for her 2003 campaign for San Francisco DA, remembers Harris sitting outside grocery stores with an ironing board stacked with campaign literature. Those who made it through her 2020 primary recall that after she dropped out, she joined the last of her staff in a dance party in the campaign headquarters. Harris’ early allies in California may have seen glimpses of Barack Obama, but her turn on the national stage has seemed more Selina Meyer. After a splashy kickoff in 2019, the Harris 2020 campaign stalled, then sputtered out. Aides say she took advice from too many different advisers offering conflicting guidance. Her record as a prosecutor was unwieldy baggage for a Democratic primary shadowed by a movement for racial justice. In a contest defined by Bernie Sanders on one side and Biden on the other, she never found her lane. Her operation was plagued with mismanagement and infighting. Harris seemed tentative and insecure, terrified of putting a foot wrong. “We did a disservice to her in 2020,” admits Bakari Sellers, a state co-chair on that campaign. “We Bubble-Wrapped her.” Enthusiasm waned; the money dried up. She dropped out long before the first votes were cast in the Iowa caucuses.

[...] Republicans admit Harris will be harder to beat than a diminished Biden. But they believe the candidate riding high the past few weeks will soon, under sustained attack, come down to earth. “If she runs the same kind of campaign she ran in 2019 and 2020, her campaign will collapse and Donald Trump will waltz into the White House,” Republican pollster Whit Ayres says. “On the other hand, if she has learned as much as her allies and friends say she has in the last four years, she will give Trump a real run for his money.” Harris campaign officials say they remain focused on the seven key battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. With Harris atop the ticket, those states “are even more in play for us, stronger for us than they might have been otherwise,” says Dan Kanninen, the campaign’s battleground director. Harris is more popular with younger, Black, and Latino voters than Biden was when he dropped out of the race, according to polling, which puts her in a stronger position to win the Sun Belt states. At the same time, she may be losing ground with older white voters, which makes her more vulnerable in the trio of “Blue Wall” states—Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—that form that core of the Democrats’ Electoral College strategy. To shore up those states, Harris is leaning on her major labor endorsements and making multiple visits to the upper Midwest.

Harris inherited Biden’s campaign infrastructure, including more than 260 outposts across the battleground states. In Nevada, the Harris campaign has 13 field offices to Trump’s one; in Pennsylvania, it has 36 coordinated offices to Trump’s three, according to a campaign memo.

Time Magazine has an insightful column on the resurrection of Kamala Harris and her rising political fortunes.

Read the full story at Time Magazine.

[varun0096]

Navigating Health Insurance Options in Mumbai: Your Comprehensive Guide

Mumbai, a vibrant and bustling city, offers a range of health insurance options to cater to its diverse population. Whether you're a young professional, a family provider, or someone looking for specific coverage, finding the right health insurance plan is crucial for ensuring your well-being and financial security. This guide will help you understand the various health insurance options available in Mumbai, key factors to consider, and how to choose the best plan for your needs.

1. Types of Health Insurance Plans

Individual Health Insurance: This plan covers one person—typically the policyholder. It’s ideal if you're seeking coverage just for yourself. These plans generally cover hospitalization expenses, doctor consultations, and sometimes outpatient treatments. They provide a tailored approach to personal health needs, ensuring you’re covered for medical costs that might arise.

Family Floater Plans: Designed for families, these plans cover multiple members under one policy. Family floater plans are usually more cost-effective than buying separate policies for each member. The sum insured is shared among the covered members, making it a practical option for families seeking comprehensive coverage.

Critical Illness Insurance: This policy offers a lump sum payout upon diagnosis of a critical illness such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. It provides additional financial support during prolonged treatment periods and can help cover costs not included in regular health insurance. Critical illness insurance is particularly useful if you want extra protection against severe health conditions.

Top-Up Plans: Supplement your existing health insurance with a top-up plan. These plans offer additional coverage at a lower premium but come with higher deductibles. They are an affordable way to increase your coverage limits and enhance your existing policy without significantly increasing your insurance costs.

2. Leading Health Insurance Providers in Mumbai

Mumbai is home to numerous health insurance providers, each offering various plans. Here’s a snapshot of some well-known insurers:

1. Star Health and Allied Insurance: Star Health offers a range of plans, including individual, family floater, and critical illness policies. Known for its extensive hospital network and comprehensive coverage, Star Health is a reliable choice for many Mumbai residents.

2. Max Bupa Health Insurance: Max Bupa provides customizable health insurance plans with a focus on quality care. Their policies include a broad range of benefits and a large network of hospitals, making them a solid option for individuals and families alike.

3. HDFC ERGO: HDFC ERGO is known for its innovative insurance solutions and flexible plans. They offer individual, family floater, and top-up plans, ensuring a variety of options to suit different health and financial needs.

4. ICICI Lombard: With a strong network of hospitals and a reputation for good customer service, ICICI Lombard offers a range of health insurance policies. Their plans are designed to provide comprehensive coverage with easy claim processing.

3. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Health Insurance Plan

Coverage Benefits: Examine what each plan covers. Look for policies that include hospitalization expenses, pre and post-hospitalization care, day-care procedures, and coverage for critical illnesses. Comprehensive coverage helps prevent unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

Network Hospitals: Verify if the insurance provider has a wide network of hospitals in Mumbai. Access to cashless treatment at these hospitals can simplify the claims process and reduce financial strain during emergencies.

Premiums and Deductibles: Compare premiums and deductibles of different plans. While lower premiums are attractive, they may come with higher deductibles. Balance the cost of premiums with the amount you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim.

Claim Settlement Ratio: Check the claim settlement ratio of the insurer. This ratio reflects the percentage of claims settled versus those filed. A higher ratio indicates a more reliable insurer with a track record of efficiently handling claims.

Exclusions and Limitations: Be aware of any exclusions and limitations in the policy. Some plans might not cover pre-existing conditions or certain treatments. Understanding these details will help avoid surprises later.

4. Popular Hospitals in Mumbai for Cashless Treatment

Mumbai has several top hospitals that offer cashless treatment facilities. Here are some reputable choices:

1. Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital: Known for its advanced medical care and a wide network of insurance partners, Kokilaben offers extensive cashless facilities.

2. Leelavati Hospital: With modern infrastructure and a variety of medical services, Leelavati Hospital is a preferred choice for insured patients.

3. Jaslok Hospital: Renowned for high-quality healthcare and a broad insurance network, Jaslok Hospital provides excellent medical care and cashless treatment options.

4. S. L. Raheja Hospital: This hospital is known for its patient-centric approach and offers a range of medical services with cashless treatment facilities.

5. How to Apply for Health Insurance in Mumbai

1. Research and Compare: Start by researching and comparing different health insurance providers and plans. Use online comparison tools to evaluate premiums, coverage, and benefits.

2. Consult an Insurance Agent: If needed, consult an insurance agent who can provide expert advice and help you select the best plan based on your needs and budget.

3. Complete the Application: Fill out the application form with necessary personal and health information. Some insurers might require a medical examination.

4. Submit Documentation: Provide required documents such as proof of identity, address proof, and medical history. Some insurers may also request a health check-up.

5. Review and Purchase: Carefully review the policy terms and conditions before purchasing. Ensure you understand all coverage details and exclusions.

6. Make the Payment: Pay the premium using your preferred method. After payment, you’ll receive your policy documents.

Need Help Finding the Right Plan?

Choosing the right health insurance can be complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you need personalized assistance or have questions about specific plans, our team is here to help. Contact us for expert advice and support in finding the best health insurance plan for you and your family.

Contact Us for personalized guidance and to explore the best health insurance options available in Mumbai. Your health and well-being are our priority, and we’re here to ensure you get the coverage you need.

Conclusion

Health insurance is a vital part of safeguarding your financial future and ensuring access to quality healthcare. By understanding the types of plans available, evaluating top insurers, and considering key factors, you can make an informed decision. Whether you’re seeking individual coverage, a family plan, or additional protection with a critical illness or top-up plan, Mumbai’s health insurance market offers a range of options to suit your needs.

[bethestaryouareradio]

Elections and Disparity in Maternal Mortality Rates

Want to know what teens think about the 2024 elections and the nominees? Join hosts Julia and Hannah as they both provide election history as well as their personal thoughts. They interview guest teen Viranshi Vira who discusses the inequities in healthcare, specifically the disparity with racial maternal mortality. She and her peers organized a school walkout to protest the overturn of Roe v. Wade and advocate for reproductive rights. Hasini enters the conversation and states that even though young teens can’t vote yet, their interests must be taken into account. Policies on education, climate change, healthcare, and social justice directly affect their lives, both now and in the years to come. Knowledge about the political process now prepares teens to be responsible and informed voters when they reach voting age. It also empowers teens to participate in discussions, advocate for causes they care about, and support candidates who align with their values. Elections are the cornerstone of democratic governance, giving citizens the power to choose their leaders and influence the direction of their country. In 2024, the stakes are high. Do citizens want democracy or a dictatorship? Do Americans want a leader who has integrity and advocates for freedom or a convicted felon who seeks revenge and retribution? Whatever your age, your voice makes a difference. If you are old enough to vote, do your homework and choose the best candidate. The future of our world depends on it and every vote counts.

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Bio: Viranshi Vira

 Viranshi Vira is a rising freshman at Case Western Reserve University. She is very passionate about studying inequities in healthcare. She has published a paper in the Research Archive of Rising Scholars about the racial disparities in maternal mortality rates and spoke about her research at the Polygence Symposium and an international science discussion group. She has also published an article in Teen Ink about health insurance inequities in Indigenous communities and spoke more in depth about this topic at an international science discussion group. She and her peers organized a school walkout to protest the overturn of Roe v. Wade and advocate for reproductive rights, which had a turnout of almost 600 people. Viranshi hopes to work to combat the consequences of health care disparities and work to increase accessibility to quality healthcare for everyone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkwjrV6fCz0

Listen at Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/150990/elections-and-maternity-mortality

#Elections, #inequities,#maternalmortality,#trump,#harris,#kamala,#brat,#coconut,#2024Presidentialelection, #teenstalk,

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[girl-in-a-hoodie1]

A Comprehensive Guide to Health Insurance in Texas

Embarking on the journey to secure your well-being in the vast landscape of the lone star state becomes a seamless endeavor with the diverse array of health insurance options available in texas. From metropolitan hubs to rural communities, health insurance texas offers a range of plans tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals and families. This expansive coverage ensures access to quality healthcare services, promoting a sense of security and peace of mind. Whether you're seeking comprehensive coverage for preventative care, emergency services, or specialist consultations, texas health insurance plans cater to various lifestyles and budgets. Navigating the complexities of the healthcare landscape in the state becomes more manageable with insights into the available options, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health and financial well-being. In texas, health insurance is not just a safeguard t's a vital tool for maintaining a healthy and balanced life in the face of the unpredictable.

Diverse Coverage for Every Texan Navigating Health Insurance Options

Discover the extensive range of health insurance Texas plans designed to cater to the diverse needs of individuals and families across Texas. From metropolitan areas to rural communities, these plans offer a spectrum of coverage options, ensuring that every Texan can find a suitable insurance solution tailored to their unique healthcare requirements.

Understanding The Health Insurance Texas Landscape: A Comprehensive Overview

Gain valuable insights into the intricate web of Texas health insurance, exploring the various providers, policies, and regulations that shape the healthcare landscape. This comprehensive overview equips individuals with the knowledge needed to navigate the system, empowering them to make informed choices about their health coverage.

Affordability and Accessibility Unveiling Health Insurance Texas Solutions

Delve into the accessibility and affordability of health insurance plans in Texas. From exploring government-sponsored programs to private insurance options, this subtitle highlights the importance of making health coverage not only comprehensive but also within reach for individuals and families, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Exploring Customizable Health Insurance Texas Families

Examine how health insurance in Texas accommodates the diverse lifestyles of its residents. Whether you're a young professional, a growing family, or a retiree, discover how insurance plans can be customized to address specific healthcare needs, offering a flexible approach to coverage that aligns with individual circumstances.

A Clear Guide to Health Insurance Texas  Components 

Uncover the core components of health insurance in Texas, from essential benefits to coverage limitations. This subtitle provides a practical guide, ensuring that individuals have a clear understanding of the key elements that make up their health insurance plans and the crucial factors to consider when selecting coverage.

Beyond Basic Coverage: Supplemental Health Insurance Texas

Explore the world of supplemental health insurance options available in Texas, designed to enhance basic coverage and provide additional protection. This section delves into the benefits of supplemental plans, offering a deeper understanding of how they can fortify health insurance coverage to address specific medical needs and unexpected healthcare costs.

Health Insurance Texas Navigating Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment Periods

Navigate the intricacies of open enrollment and special enrollment periods in Texas, understanding the windows of opportunity to enroll in or modify health insurance coverage. This subtitle sheds light on the timelines, considerations, and exceptions associated with these enrollment periods, ensuring that individuals can make timely and informed decisions about their health insurance plans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, unraveling the core components of health insurance in Texas empowers individuals to make informed choices for their well-being. This comprehensive guide has shed light on the essential benefits and coverage limitations that form the bedrock of health insurance plans. Armed with this knowledge, Texans can navigate the complex landscape of healthcare with confidence, ensuring that their coverage aligns with their unique needs. From understanding preventive care services to recognizing the nuances of coverage limits, individuals now possess the tools to select plans that not only safeguard their health but also consider crucial factors like budget and lifestyle.

[analyticsalpha]

7 reasons businesses should go green or go green

Sustainability has become a big issue in the business world. However, adopting a friendly attitude is not as temporary as a lava lamp or a pet rock. If you hope to continue to survive in a changing world, you must take action that is environmentally friendly. Consumers today are looking for green initiatives and will pay more for sustainability. In addition, keeping up with changing standards prevents innovation as you struggle to keep up with relevant laws. Find out seven reasons why you should embrace protecting the planet - if you haven't already. 1. Customers are looking for new inspiration About 73% of millennials say they would pay more for green products across industries. Although the economy is proving difficult, their contribution to leaving the world a better place for future generations outweighs financial concerns. Young people today generally don't have a lot of free money, and they are very careful about businesses that need to earn a solid income. Creating eco-friendly practices creates a fast marketing campaign. Let the world know your commitment to support. You will keep your existing base happy while attracting new customers. 2. Going green offers tax and legal benefits The federal and state governments offer significant tax incentives for businesses to go green. Your accountant can keep you informed of quick changes in available credits and deductions. For example, you can apply for a 30% credit to invest in solar or wind energy. If you want to upgrade your organization's HVAC system, you can save a lot of money by exploring these options. Credit centers provide a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your overall tax bill. Converting to a green building, for example, creates a tax deduction.

3. Long-term saving of money and resources If you were printing for an internal meeting, would you use blank sheets for each? Many companies use reams of waste paper and this practice destroys many trees. Place a recycling bin next to all photo printers and printers. Establish a policy of printing all non-commercial correspondence on recycled paper. Similarly, if you distribute water bottles with your logo to your customers, you spend less money and waste plastic. Also, once your customer throws it in the trash, your contact information will be lost. Instead, offer regular customers a reusable bottle of water or coffee. You save money in the end and keep your name front and center. 4. Environmentally friendly process reduces labor costs With solar technology, you can reduce your electricity bills. Small businesses that don't need backup generators can get rid of this fee, generating a lot of money every month. Even large companies that connect to the network to save money continue to save money. Switching to low-profile toilets can save you money on your water bills. If your property has amenities such as bathrooms and kitchens, appliances with a higher Energy Star rating reduce expenses. 5. Green business attracts and retains talent Most people spend half or more of their sleeping hours working. Given the time to invest, they need a corporate culture that shares their values ​​and vision. Many are looking for companies that accept support. According to a study, 64% of millennials consider the company's social and environmental impact when deciding where to work. The same number is also willing to refuse a job that does not have a strong role in the company. If you want to attract talent and retain the best designers, get involved in going green. 6. Environmentally friendly policies improve health outcomes Pollution can kill people. It is estimated that 4.6 million people die every year due to air pollution. This staggering number does not include the number of days lost due to respiratory and chronic health problems resulting from breathing in particulates and toxins. Because the United States does not have a universal health insurance system, employers must pay the cost. This system comes at a high cost, more than $6,000 per year per person. That number is small compared to the $15,000 needed to train a replacement, but it's not a small amount. Adopting greener habits improves overall health outcomes. Healthier workers contact illness less often and require care less often, reducing costs for everyone. 7. Sustainability is the key to progress With my apologies to those in the non-renewable energy sector, some resources will begin to dry up. At the very least, fuel will become more difficult to obtain, making it more expensive. If you are using hemp packaging when this happens, production can continue as before. However, if you're stuck with plastic, you'll want to close the job to invest in something new. Climate change also affects your future customers. Some people even refuse to have children out of concern for the future of the planet. Increased competition for business is coming - if you're an innovator, you want to be ahead of the curve. Why do companies go green or the risks are extinguished A green plan offers many benefits. Organizations that accept support will do well in the coming economy. Environmentally friendly practices and sustainable value. Those who do not understand this will end up in the past.

[neerajblogs]

7 Best Medical Insurance Policies in India | Kabia

Aditya Birla Activ Health + Multiply Fit Combo - this is a four-in-one comprehensive health plan that emphasizes the benefits of health coverage and fitness, health and rewards.

ICICI Lombard Comprehensive Health: An individual or family can purchase a comprehensive health plan from ICICI Lombard, which provides comprehensive health coverage. Depending on his medical needs, the insured can choose from a variety of total sums certified.

Star Health Seniors Red Carpet Health Policy: Other health plans typically have a maximum age of 65. However, Star Health's Red Carpet Seniors health policy guarantees coverage beyond this age limit. This plan offers single and family float policies with one-year, two-year, and three-year contract terms.

My HDFC ERGO: Suraksha Women's Health Policy is an intensive policy created for serious illnesses just for women. It protects against minor ailments, predicaments, activities and serious diseases that affect women.

Health insurance program for young people: This coverage is ideal for young policyholders and was created with them in mind. It offers full coverage, exclusive discounts, no copays, and industry-leading benefits like unlimited online consultations and an intuitive health website. Other benefits. Niva Bupa Health Pulse Policy - Niva Bupa Health Pulse Policy is a cost-effective health insurance option offering competitive rates coverage from INR 30,000 to INR 25,000. It is one of the lowest premium health insurance.

Reliance Health Gain Policy: The Reliance Health Gain policy offers policyholders the greatest degree of freedom in choosing their coverage and benefits from various options depending on their needs and requirements. This policy is divided into Plus, Power, and Prime plans.

Here are some of the best medical insurance. 

Kabia

Investors can lean on, relax and realize their financial goals with the help of KABIA. We provide specialized, reliable and cleverly designed solutions to our esteemed clients to help them achieve their financial goals. We also grow our business by providing a one-stop shop for your financial needs. Our involvement in banking and financial institutions for over ten years has allowed us to develop our knowledge. In the past, we have had the good fortune to manage investments, insurance and mortgages for individuals and businesses. As a result, we could see the inconvenience our customers were experiencing, and we responded by providing a single point of contact for all of their financial needs.

[petnews2day]

Puppy love: How pet parents cope with costs

New Post has been published on https://petnews2day.com/pet-industry-news/pet-financial-news/puppy-love-how-pet-parents-cope-with-costs/

Puppy love: How pet parents cope with costs

NEW YORK, Nov 15 (Reuters) – When Pamela Keniston sits down to do her monthly budget, she has a new element to account for these days.

Hint: Short blonde fur, barks fiercely at bunnies and goes by the name of Zuzu.

The lovable “supermutt” – a mix of Yorkie, Maltese, Chihuahua and Dachshund – came into Keniston’s life in May 2020, early in the pandemic. But Keniston was not prepared for the cost.

From regular grooming, to food, to the spoiled stylings of pajamas and jackets and special collars, the dollars added up quickly. Throw in some medical needs – little Zuzu’s knees needed pricey procedures – and the financial realities of pandemic pets can sometimes take new owners aback.

“Having a pet is a big financial commitment,” says Keniston, a digital marketing consultant in Chapin, South Carolina. “All those things really add up.”

Indeed, the costs of four-legged companionship are staggering: Since the beginning of the COVID crisis, one in five American households, or 23 million, brought a dog or cat into the house, according to the ASPCA.

And a new survey finds they are forking out some $4,500 for yearly care. That is more than pet parents expected in 61% of cases, according to findings from OnePoll, done in partnership with insurer MetLife.

In fact, two in five respondents said that our furry friends are as expensive, or even more so, than dependents of the human variety. No wonder 60% said they tuck away $200 from every paycheck, specifically for their pet’s necessities.

So how can pet parents be smart about their spending without completely draining their financial accounts? Here are four tips.

INSURANCE

For some reason the notion of finding insurance stresses pet parents out: 32% find it overwhelming, according to the MetLife survey.

But you should definitely look into coverage, because if you do not have it, you could be forced into some very difficult choices (and huge out-of-pocket bills). You will find the best prices when your pet is still young and has not yet encountered any health conditions.

Comparison shop just like you would for your own policy, weighing monthly cost against issues like deductibles and the percentage covered after that. In 2020, the average annual premium was $594.15 for dogs, $341.81 for cats.

While the upfront costs of insurance are never fun, the return can be well worth it. Little Zuzu’s knee problems – “luxating patellas” to be specific – ended up costing around $3,000 to fix, Keniston says. Thankfully, pet insurance just kicked in – and covered 90% of that bill.

PREVENTATIVE CARE

If you are looking to save money, it might be very tempting to put off those annual checkups. But think long term.

“Don’t skip annual wellness visits, because this is when your veterinarian can potentially catch problems that can be managed or reversed,” says Kristen Levine, publisher of the Pet Living blog and co-author of the book “Pampered Pets on a Budget”. “This will be less expensive than treating a health condition, possibly a chronic one, that was not prevented earlier.”

FOOD

Pet food has definitely gone “premium” in recent years, but that does not mean you have to pay five-star prices.

Some ways to save up to 30% on that kibble bill, according to Levine: Buy in bulk, but store in airtight containers to preserve freshness. Comparison shop for best prices at Chewy.com or Amazon, or warehouse outlets like Costco and Sam’s Club.

And be sure to maximize the use of promotional savings and coupons. In addition, take advantage of the “subscribe and save” option for regular online purchases.

MEDICATION

One cost you cannot really avoid is medication – either for specific conditions, or for ongoing preventative care such as for fleas or heartworm. But you do you have some flexibility in where you get those medications from, and how much you pay.

“There are several websites that offer discounts on over-the-counter and prescription medicines, like Chewy.com and 1800petmeds.com,” says Brandi Hunter Munden, vice president of communications for the American Kennel Club. “There are also companies that have coupons, like GoodRx.”

Of course, as any pet parent will tell you, the love and companionship are worth any costs a hundred times over. Just be aware that it will probably set you back more than you expect.

“It’s important to have the budget, and the resources, and the bandwidth in your life. And if you do — then you just can’t beat the love of a dog,” Keniston says.

Editing by Lauren Young and Lisa Shumaker Follow us @ReutersMoney or at <a href=”http://www.reuters.com/finance/personal-finance.” target=”_blank”>http://www.reuters.com/finance/personal-finance.</a>

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[i-healthreport]

Denmark’s Long Term Care

Health Care and Life ( Social ) in Denmark If it comes to efficient and reliable health care system, Canada should learn from Denmark, according to the Daily Beast, a US publication. In the USA and CANADA, we think we are doing better when it comes to taking care of Senior Citizens but in Denmark, it is a different story. There was a radio documentary produced by Karin Wells. The title says it beautifully " It's Their Life .The story Denmark tells is that elders with dementia have a right to decide how they want to live. They have a right to go on holidays, ride bicycle, chop woods and fall in love. They have a right to decide how they will spend their days. 

According to Alzheimer Europe, Danes with dementia are protected by government policy which states that the patient's dignity, integrity and right of self-determination must be respected. A care home in Copenhagen is the residence often referred to as the gold standard when artist Lucy Lyons went there in November 2011, to draw experiences of aging. She described it this way. The first thing you notice upon entering is, there are no signs warning you of something or pictograms and ideograms giving instructions. The next you notice is the lack of plastic. No carers in wipe down aprons, no wipe clean table clothes, plastic beakers or bibs. 

The tables have tablecloths, the residents have lunch as anyone would, using normal cutlery and china plates and they have beer or wine with their meals. This is not an institutionalized feeding care home. It hasn't always been like that, Denmark used to warehouse people just like we do here in Canada. But Thyra Frank, a nurse and member of parliament worked tirelessly to change that. Today Denmark treats it's elders with dignity and respect. People lead active lives in whatever ways they can until they die ( expire ). According to Judy Steed, who visited care homes in Denmark ( 2008 ) wrote about it for the Toronto Star. 

She wrote ' I am struck by the attitude of proud independence, I encounter in many of the seniors I meet in the two countries ( Denmark and Sweden ) how they persist in doing the chores they are able to do. The system supports them where needed, but doesn't take over- not even in nursing homes, where they have kitchenettes so they can make their own toast and tea. ' That sounds like a recipe for keeping people healthier longer and healthier we are the less of a strain we are on our medical system. Denmark model for compassionate elder care gives me hope. 

Today in America and Canada, unemployment is much too high, wages and income are too low, millions of Americans are struggling to find affordable health care, and the gab between the very rich and everyone else is growing at an alarm rate, while young working families search desperately for affordable child care, older Americans worry about how they can retire with dignity. Denmark is a small, homogeneous nation of about 5.5 million people. The United States is a melting pot of more than 315 million people. Denmark and the United States ( Canada ) are very different countries- nonetheless, are there lessons that we can learn from Denmark. 

In Denmark, social policy in areas like health care, child care, education and protecting the unemployed are part of a ' solidarity system ' that makes sure that almost no one falls into economic despair. Danes pay very high taxes, but in return enjoy a quality of life that many Americans ( Canadians ) would find hard to believe. While it is difficult to become very rich in Denmark, no one is allowed to be poor. The minimum wage in Denmark is about twice that of the United States and people who are totally out of the labor market unable to care for themselves have a basic income guarantee of about $100 per day. Health care in Denmark is universal, free of charge and high quality. 

Everybody is covered as a right of citizenship. The Danish health care system is popular, with patient satisfaction much higher than the US. In Denmark, every citizen can choose a doctor in their area, prescription drugs are inexpensive and free for those under 18 years of age. Interestingly, despite their universal coverage, the Danish health care system is far more cost-effective than the US and Canada. They spend about 11 percent of their G.D.P. ( Gross Domestic Product ) on health care. US spend almost 18 percent. In a volatile global economy, the Danish government recognizes that it must invest heavily in training programs so workers can learn new skills to meet changing workforce demands. It also understands that when people lose their jobs, they must have adequate income while they search for new jobs, If a worker loses his or her in Denmark, unemployment insurance covers up to 90 percent of earnings for as long as two years. Recently the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( O.E.C.D ) found that the Danish people rank among the happiest in the world among 40 Countries that were studied. America did not crack the top 10.

Mickson Addo

[lgbtqueeries]

A School Project as an Ode to Larry Kramer --32 Million and Counting

TLDR; This speech was a project for a Queer Studies class that I participated in. It is a speech in the form of Larry Kramer’s speech about AIDS activism in 1983 called “1,112 and Counting”  I also wanted to bring into awareness what has changed in the 37 years since his original speech. The audience is meant to be the queer community, just like his was, but also to be open to those that would listen. Due to its nature, it encompasses public health, politics, humanity, and activism. I didn’t intend for this to be the case but as the project progressed we were diagnosed to be going through a pandemic much like that of what those in the 80s experienced. To this degree, I didn’t mean to scare but frustrate the reader, much like Larry Kramer. I wanted my speech to be uniquely mine, but be reminiscent of the effect that he garnered. I plan to post this to my Tumblrs LGBTQueeries and the-unending-kerfuffle as well as my Instagram @one_steph_from_death. I want to place this speech out into the world. Please feel free to reblog and share and comment and chat with me in the comments!

Larry Kramer started his count when the number was 1,112 and counting. In 1983. Think about that again. In 1983. Thirty-seven years ago. He screamed for help then, knowing full well we’d be obliterated as a group unless we stood up. He refused to be forced to die. 

To frame this, a former entertainment star had been elected to the most powerful political seat in government. His staunch political and religious opinions led to the death of innocent people. He could have saved them by using his voice and asserting a need for research, laws, and education, but instead, let them die impoverished and discriminated against. If the hate and violent crimes didn’t get them, the sickness creeping in would. 

Worst of all, as a community, we knew that he didn’t speak for us. We knew that this hate would kill us, yet we still remain silent. We remained silent as the hate trickled into the deepest pores of our community. We let the hate fester, building up and attaching to the difference among us until it finally separated us and dismantled us. We let the bigotry we so desperately try to run from infiltrate our ranks and break us apart into factions. 

They were treated like lepers and untouchables (Barker & Cran, 2006). Hospital workers were nearly absent, just present enough to not be liable for neglect. Visitors were few and gay lovers, if they stayed, were sent away. Imagine that, slipping away in pain as you lose your vision and ability to breathe, your body starts deteriorating as it is filled with cancer and opportunistic infections. Alone. All alone. 

And when you (inevitably) died your casket wasn’t lined in silk with cushions and roses. Yours was lined with plastic and biohazard material. Your brittle, thin body was crumpled up in the discarded sheets and hospital gowns and thrown into a garbage bag. No one was going to claim you, so no point in going to the morgue. Your toes, if you still had them, weren’t tagged, just set aside with all your other hospital belongings.

But the pain didn’t end there. Like the weekly garbage men, bags were taken to empty spaces and distributed into large, unmarked graves (Kilgannon. 2018). A secluded hole lost to history. A supposed bygone of the middle ages, but here to dispose of Jane and John Does. 

If I was to scream like Larry Kramer, to these separated groups, I’d go hoarse within hours. As of 2018, 35 years after his speech, we have lost 32 million people to HIV/AIDS (CDC, 2020).  That doesn’t include the people from the last 2 years. 

We lost 32 million innocent people. 

Yes, we lost gay men and IV drug users but they are still human. They still had the same dreams and aspirations as everyone else. They could have lived to be designers and playwrights just as well as becoming doctors and lawyers. We lost everyone one from, every walk of life. We lost painters, poets, magicians, musicians, surgeons, dentists, lawyers, physicians, firefighters, police officers, farmers, framers, parents, children. Their blood is on the hands of those that slowly took the life from them. The government is not free from their crimes. 

But honestly, that’s not where the frustration and anger ends. Our history is being erased. Purposefully and eagerly. This situation that I’ve laid before your eyes seems to be that of 1983 and the pain of Ronald Reagan. The horror sounds painfully identical to what we deal with today.

  Our current administration has continued some of these misinformed ideas and hateful actions. The Ryan White Fund, a fund specifically created to create a money source for HIV/AIDS research and treatment have received cutbacks and other plans set in motion like PEPFAR aren’t fairing well either. They are better in this term than in the past, but frankly, that’s not too comforting. This fund was the lifeblood for many organizations and they soon will be bled dry (Forsyth, n.d.). This does not take into account the other actions towards queer people in general. This takes into account only one facet of the government that is working against us. What about the judicial branch and the possibility to be tried for attempted murder for not disclosing your status to your partner (CDC, 2019)?  It’s not like you have to do the same for other STIs. “On the count of giving chlamydia to your partner without disclosing your last date of testing, how does the jury find the defendant?” This doesn’t take into account the possibility you didn’t know of your own status. 

And what if you wished to give blood? Say you’re gay and we’ll even go so far as saying you’re HIV-. They’d turn you away. They’d send you back for 12 months for not being able to prove you didn’t have sex with your male partner for 12+ months. May I remind you that lesbians and heterosexual men and women have gotten HIV and therefore can pass it along? This is possibly a law of Reagan’s 80s, but it’s still in effect TODAY (“LGBTQ Donors”, n.d.).

But I digress. The government is still not free from their crimes and institutionalized hate. I don’t wish to get too political but it is inevitable with the fact we’re all stuck in the past. Again, it’s not where my frustration lies. 

My frustration is formed in the same disappointment that Larry Kramer had. In 37 years not much has changed and that the voice that we have as a community. We gained it with protests through organizations like ACT UP but we’ve apparently been diagnosed with laryngitis because we’ve become oddly silent. HIV/AIDS is not a disease of history. We haven’t cured the earth of this disease. It’s here and stuck to us like your legs to a hot vinyl seat. It affects everyone and intersectionality can increase your risk (CDC, 2019). There’s a reason it’s no longer called “Gay Related Immune Disease”. Yet where the hell are we?

It affects the young and the old. Yet we remain silent, pretending it’s not occurring. 

We can blame it on the straight, cis majority but we are complicit in our own erasure, assimilation, and silencing. 

We let our history fall by the wayside and be covered up with rainbows and pride flags used by businesses in marketing. We let our history be encapsulated by a month handed to us by the majority. 

We let the atrocities that happened be forgotten along with many of the names. 

We isolate those now that are HIV+ from queer-friendly functions, both blatantly and subtlely.

But most importantly we lost our gusto to fight for a better future for the generations that come after us. That’s what stings the most. 

It’s important to remember that this disease is no longer a death sentence. You no longer have to feel the weight of shackles weighing you down towards the underworld. Provided, that is, you have insurance and can pay for your medications. But that is another government issue for another speech. With one pill a day, just like your Flintstones vitamins, you can live a normal life. You can date and with proper precautions, have sex and not pass it along to your partner. Undetectable = Untransmissable (UNAIDS, 2018). 

While this may be a reality for us in our modern-day. I refuse to let those that sacrificed themselves for this cause be forgotten. We lost 32 million people and while I can’t list them all here or scream them to the heavens, I’ll damn well try. Those that came before us, despite their flaws, paved the way for us and I refuse to let them slip away because our government doesn’t like it. Join me in sharing the stories. If you want to see face to face, the humans that we lost, follow accounts like @theaidsmemorial on Instagram. End our silence. If it’s painful for you, imagine how it must feel for the friends and families of those that lost someone of the 32 million. They need your help to speak up. 

We started this with 1,112 and counting. Now we’re at 32 million and counting. Let’s end the counting and start the protesting.

Works Cited

Barker, G., & Cran, W. (2006, May 30). Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/aids/ 

Centers for Disease Control. (2020, January 16). U.S. Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics 

Forsyth, A. D. (n.d.). Powerpoint presentation.

HIV and STD Criminal Laws. (2019, July 1). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/policies/law/states/exposure.html

HIV by Group. (2019, October 25). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/index.html 

Kilgannon, C. (2018, July 3). Dead of AIDS and Forgotten in Potter's Field. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/nyregion/hart-island-aids-new-york.html 

LGBTQ Donors. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/lgbtq-donors.html 

UNAIDS Explainer. (2018). UNAIDS Explainer. Retrieved from https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/undetectable-untransmittable_en.pdf 

[arcticdementor]

The June issue of Commentary, likely assembled in early-to-mid-May, contained an article written by John Podhoretz and illustrated by Daniel Rose headlined “The Empty City.” Podhoretz selected ten eerie photos of a depopulated Manhattan shot by Rose, whom Podhoretz describes as “a businessman and amateur photographer whose stunning images you are seeing here and on our cover, used the time to document this unnerving reality:”

…

Or until Monday, June the 1st, when a different type of Groundhog Day may have begun for New Yorkers: “The Empty City” repopulated itself – with a massive amount of rioters and looters, all-but-endorsed by a leftist mayor who not only refused to call in the National Guard, but whose own daughter was arrested during a Manhattan protest the previous Saturday. Notice that the photos collated for Podhoretz’s article show few buildings boarded up, demonstrating that business owners still believed that the police would protect them. As Reason’s Nick Gillespie wrote on Tuesday at Spectator USA, “Until a few nights ago, at least Manhattan was safe. You might not see anyone else on the street, but you didn’t feel worried, either. Stores were closed, but their windows weren’t covered in plywood:”

…

Back to the Future, One Way or Another

As with Podhoretz’s article, published during the inflection point between lockdown and smash-up, a Spectator USA article headlined “Back to the Future” by Michael Lind, dated May 24th, speculated that “the post-pandemic world could resemble the 1950s”:

The 2020s could witness a wave of suburbanization like the one that followed World War Two. While many of the urban rich move out of crowded downtowns, the working classes may be driven even further into the metropolitan periphery. If the pandemic is followed by lingering mass unemployment and a decade of lost growth, working-class people and retirees will be even more inclined to compensate by moving to cheaper land to reduce their biggest fixed cost — the rent or mortgage.

A flight from the big cities, should it take place, could see a reversal of the urban gentrification that occurred in the recent pre-pandemic years. After World War Two, many American cities were depopulated and de-industrialized. Municipal bankruptcies, riots and crime waves exacerbated the dereliction. A few elite neighborhoods in Paris, London and New York will always be fashionable, but others could undergo the kind of dystopian urban decay that was familiar as recently as the 1980s, inspiring movies like Taxi Driver (1976) and Escape from New York (1981).

That New York was able to turn it around at all in the 1990s was a testament to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and his willingness to employ “Broken Windows”-inspired anti-crime policies, as discussed in a 2019 City Journal article by Steven Malanga that also warned, “Progressive policies threaten a new era of urban dysfunction:”

…

During the past decade, the left liked to toss around the phrase “food deserts” to describe inner-city urban areas that lacked swanky Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. The lack of such amenities was a direct result of businesses fleeing after the riots of the 1960s, which utterly transformed cities such as Detroit. Expect that phrase to get into even wider circulation in the coming years, as this passage from Joel Kotkin in a Quillette article from Tuesday titled “Pandemics and Pandemonium” highlights:

…

At the American Spectator (which must loathe the fact that the London Spectator has started a U.S.-oriented spinoff publication), John C. Wohlstetter wrote that in the 1960s, the immediate police response to riots inadvertently determined whether or not a city would have a viable long-term future. “There is a validated playbook for dealing with riots”

…

Detroit: The Retail Model of the Future?

In 1965, Jerome Cavanagh, Detroit’s then-mayor, seen by some as an up and coming young Democrat in the JFK mold, starred in a 20-minute film that was created to attract the 1968 Olympics. The documentary featured, as Tom Wolfe would say, row after Mies van der Rohe of gleaming modernist buildings; the height of midcentury modernism; it was titled “Detroit: A City on the Move”

…

Smile: You’re on Candid Camera — Everywhere

The past week and a half of riots may well deliver technological changes too, as predicted by prolific libertarian Tweeter “Neontaster:”

I just hope America realizes that the government's solution to this problem is facial recognition camera networks. So loot all you want, dude. Your face is still going in that database and the knock at your door will come. We just bought that future.— neontaster (@neontaster) June 3, 2020

Want a student loan or car loan? Wanna sign that lease? Just let me take your picture one sec OOPS looks like you stole a TV from Target 6 years ago and the system just auto called the cops and they'll be here shortly to arrest you.— neontaster (@neontaster) June 3, 2020

PS: The people who are like "wtf I love facial recognition now" – that's how it starts. Pretty soon your health insurance premiums go up because a camera spotted you somewhere without a mask. Never think these policies end with other people.— neontaster (@neontaster) June 3, 2020

On Monday, Rod Dreher of The American Conservative wrote a post titled “The iPad Thieves,” which began with video of a Muslim-immigrant-owned computer store in Minneapolis being looted (stolen products that may or may not work, thanks to Apple’s anti-theft technology) before concluding with a look at the riots and looting in Manhattan. Dreher concluded, “When I moved to New York City in 1998, it was so, so common to hear people say that Rudy Giuliani, who had been elected in 1994, had made such a difference in the life of the city. ‘You can’t imagine what it was like before,’ they would say. That was a long time ago. Now, it’s back to the 1980s.”

Thanks to both the impact of the COVID lockdown and the riots that immediately followed, numerous 21st-century American cities could join the ranks of Detroit, mated with the omnipresent surveillance technology of the Stasi. In 2009, at the dawn of the Obama administration, the Washington Post declared (via Newsweek, which was then under its ownership), “We Are All Socialists Now.” Post-2020, both in external appearance and behind the scenes, a fair chunk of American urban life could come to resemble East Germany, rather than Sweden.

[blackkudos]

Iman Crosson

Iman Crosson (born March 27, 1982), better known by his stage name Alphacat, is an American actor, impressionist and YouTube personality and is known for his impersonations of former U.S. President Barack Obama and his starring role in independent film Along the Roadside.

YouTube and Barack Obama impressions

On December 14, 2005, a 23-year-old Crosson opened a YouTube account with screen name Alphacat. In July 2008, at the urging of his fellow waiters Crosson created spoof videos of then U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama.

During the summer of the 2008 U.S. Presidential election campaign, Crosson's 30-second video won Denny's Restaurant's nationwide contest for the best impressionist of the then-candidate Barack Obama. He said that he "went from unemployed to self-employed in literally a matter of a month." Crosson moved from New York to California, obtained an agent specializing in helping talent cross over from online to mainstream, and was invited to be on America's Got Talent.

On YouTube, Crosson specialized in mashing up his Obama impersonations with hip-hop songs, his spoofs of Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" and T.I.'s "Whatever I Like" being viewed 20 million times each.

After Obama's January 2009 inauguration, Crosson was featured on several entertainment and news television shows, blogs and newspapers. Crosson was called a "YouTube sensation" by Fox News' Neil Cavuto.

Crosson's post-inaugural work included voice-overs in Newsweek's The District, a video series in which Crosson narrated Obama's first months in Washington from the President's point of view. Crosson impersonated Obama at the 66th Annual Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner on March 17, 2010.

In October 2012, Crosson performed as Obama in the YouTube series Epic Rap Battles of History in the "Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney" episode, the music single of which was certified gold by the RIAA. Additionally, Crosson appeared as President Broccoli Obama in an episode of The Annoying Orange.

In December 2013, Crosson contributed to an Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") health care exchange's "Tell a friend – Get covered" social media campaign for raising awareness among young Americans to enroll in Obamacare-compliant health insurance, by releasing a video spoof of Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot."

In February 2014, YouTube content creators including Crosson met with U.S. President Obama at the White House to discuss ways in which government could connect with the content creators' viewers, concerning awareness of and enrollment in health insurance policies and other issues.

On May 28, 2014 Crosson as well as other YouTubers and Viners, Andrew Bachelor (King Bach) and DeStorm Power appeared in will.i.am's Vine music video for "It's My Birthday" ft. Cody Wise.

Films

Crosson played the male lead role in the independent film Along the Roadside with supporting actor Michael Madsen, the film debuting at the February 2013 FEST with its commercial release on March 17, 2015.

Crosson played U.S. President Barack Obama in the 2016 Bollywood comedy sequel, Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive, which was filmed in Mumbai, India.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

AS ONE OF THE TABOOS A VISITOR FROM THE FUTURE WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET A CHECK WITHIN A WEEK BASED ON A HALF-PAGE AGREEMENT

You would not believe the amount of stock to give him. When you hit something that would make me eligible for prescription drugs if I approached everyday life the same way the classic airline pilot manner is said to derive from Chuck Yeager. But in fact it was the basis of Amsterdam's prosperity 400 years ago. Tip: for extra impressiveness, use Greek variables. Which is to say that it's heretical. The right tools can help us avoid this danger. And as you go down the food chain the VCs get rapidly dumber.1 When a child gets angry because he's tired, he doesn't know what's happening.

A silicon valley has to be powerful enough to enforce a taboo. Related fields are where you go looking for trouble. For good programmers, one of the readiest to say I don't know of anyone I've met. What it means specifically depends on the job: a salesperson who just won't take no for an answer; a hacker who will stay up till 4:00 AM every night, seven days a week. Politicians are caught between a rock and a hard place here, however: make the capital gains rate low and be accused of creating tax breaks for the rich, or make it high and starve growing companies of investment capital. The influence of fashion is not nearly so great in hacking as it is in painting. It's like light from a distant star. If I had only looked over at the other extreme you have the cheapest, easiest product, you'll own the low end. Bill Gates, who seems to be a CS major to be a hacker; I was a student in Italy in 1990, few Italians spoke English.

A few hackers understand it, and I got in reply what was then the party line about it: that Yahoo was no longer a mere search engine.2 This is their way of weighing you. Forty-two years later you'll be making $4. Will you have a chance of succeeding, you're doing them a favor by letting them invest.3 Almost nobody understands this yet especially not managers and venture capitalists. You're better off starting with a blank slate in the form of a small town. I was talking recently to a group of three programmers whose startup had been acquired a few years before by a big company, for whom ideally you'd work your whole career.

Now how are you doing compared to the rapacious founder's $2 million. This works in America, but it feels young because it's full of rich people.4 The way to do that is to implement it. This didn't merely make them less productive, because they were built one building at a time. So hackers start original, and get original. Should you take it? Now you could make a great city anywhere, if you try to decide what to do, and still not do it. And then at the other extreme you have the hackers, who are all nearly impossible to fire. So what makes a place good to them? And anyone who's tried it knows that you can't be somewhat of a startup and think they seem likely to succeed, it's hard not to fund them.5

Even other hackers have a hard time doing that. This essay is derived from a guest lecture at Harvard, which incorporated an earlier talk at Northeastern. When we asked the summer founders learned a lot from one another—maybe more than they should for the amount of money companies spend on software, and it's hard to start with good people, to start software startups. Even a lot of things e. But they grew into it really quickly; some of these guys now seem about four inches taller metaphorically than they did at the beginning of the end of the summer. Checks instituted by governments can cause much worse problems than merely overpaying. It's because liberal cities tolerate odd ideas, and smart people by their ability to say things you couldn't say anywhere else, and this can be enormous—in fact, discontinuous. Are People Really Scared of Prefix Syntax?6 If there is one message I'd like to get across about startups, that's it.

7% of the upside, while an employer gets nearly all of it.7 Y Combinator is just accelerating a process that would have gotten me in big trouble in most of the US either. Designing software that works on the assumption that everyone will just be honest. The mathematicians don't seem bothered by this. In hacking, this can literally mean saving up bugs.8 Otherwise I just worked. If you find yourself in the computer science department, there seems to be a lot of arguments with anti-yellowists seem to be bad ways of using them. Copernicus was a canon of a cathedral, and dedicated his book to the pope. In every period of history, the answer is almost certainly no. In it he said he worried that he was fundamentally soft-hearted and tended to give away too much for free. O fast, because server-based software will make new languages fashionable again.

It might dilute the value of safe jobs. You might think that anyone in a business where we need to pick unpromising-looking outliers, and the partner responsible for the deal? Gradually the details get filled in. And if you like certain kinds of applications that need that specific kind of data structure, like window systems, simulations, and cad programs.9 It would be too easy for clients to fire them.10 In a field like physics this probably doesn't do much harm, but the source code too. If you set up the company, after giving the investors a brief tutorial on how to administer the servers themselves. We did.

Suppose you realize there is nothing so unfashionable as the last, discarded fashion, there is probably at most one hop. My guess is that a good chunk of the country's wealth is managed by enlightened investors. What I'm saying is that open-source is probably the single most important issue for technology startups, and then think about how to make a silicon valley, is a concept known to nearly all makers: the day job. I think it's better to follow the opposite policy.11 Startups are marginal.12 They just smelled wrong. At the very least we want options. Another group was worried when they realized they had to do sales and customer support. Yahoo's market cap then was already in the billions, and they were still worrying about wasting a few gigs of disk space. This should be the m. What groups are powerful but nervous, and what ideas would they like to suppress? In one culture x is ok, and in most of Europe it's not.

Notes

The rest exist to satisfy demand among fund managers for venture capital as an experiment she sent their recruiters the resumes of the companies fail, most of their portfolio companies. When an investor in!

The person who wins. Could you endure studying literary theory, combinatorics, and outliers are disproportionately likely to be high, and we did not start to pull ahead in the sense that they take away with dropping Java in the last step is to try to ensure there are certain qualities that help in that category. I was as bad an employee as this. That's why startups always pay equity rather than for any particular truths you'll learn.

You leave it to colleagues.

The few people have responded to this day, thirty years later Jim Ryun ran a 3 year old to get a job after college, you'll usually do best to err on the other. I had no idea whether this would be unfortunate.

These were the seven liberal arts. At first I didn't like it if you agree prep schools do, and graph theory. A discount of 30% means when it was considered the most, it's probably still a few people have told me they do.

We fixed both problems immediately. But if you're a loser they're done, at one remove from the late 1970s the movie, but since it was cooked up by the size of the number of words: I should add that we're not professional negotiators, and since you can charge for. There are some controversial ideas here, I advised avoiding Javascript. Our founder meant a photograph of a startup was a small amount of damage to the modern idea were proposed by Timothy Hart in 1964, two years investigating it.

If you're a YC startup you can do it now. This is almost pure discovery. 107.

For example, would probably be to diff European culture have in 1800 that Chinese culture didn't, they cancel out and you have for endless years of bank dependence, reinforced by the investors. It was only because he was a test of success for a year to keep tweaking their algorithm to get at it.

Though you should never sell i.

The existence of people we need to. Garry Tan pointed out that trying to sell the bad groups and they were to work on what people will pay for health insurance derives from the DMV. Since they don't yet have any of the company goes public. It should be your compass.

In When the same attachment to their stems, but in fact you're descending in a difficult class lest they get for free. But they've been trained.

After Greylock booted founder Philip Greenspun out of school.

Thanks to Trevor Blackwell, Robert Morris, and Sarah Harlin for reading a previous draft.

[mylesudland]

Some thoughts on youth sports

Baxter Holmes at ESPN has a fascinating story out about the NBA’s concern over injuries in its young players. For anyone who has spent time training — at any level — the concerns outlined will be ones you’ve heard before: a lack of mobility in explosive athletes and a lack of flexibility in strong athletes create ticking time bombs that go off in the form of broken legs, broken ankles, and warped backs. 

The concerns voiced by executives and doctors at the NBA level are also familiar in the modern world of youth sports — by specializing in one sport at a young age, these athletes are set up for disappointment. They will be disappointed by their health and disappointed by their in-competition performance. In 2019, the issues surrounding the culture of youth sports are not new. The parents, the kids, the coaches, the administrators in every part of the country at every level in every sport have heard this story a thousand times. 

And the “answers” end up sounding a lot like what AAU board member Rod Seaford told ESPN. 

“The NCAA and the NBA loves to lay fault for their ills at the feet of youth sports or AAU,” Seaford told ESPN. “That's a pretty common thing. We've approached the NCAA and NBA with various proposals [only] to get lip service. We don't get much serious conversation. I don't doubt that it's a legitimate concern. But it's really easy to lay all those faults of the youth coach.”

The only answer is that there is no answer. Except that as I see it, the current youth-sports-industrial complex has a pretty straightforward incentive structure that perpetuates and accentuates that unathletic athletes that are filtering into the highest levels of American sports. It’s called the NCAA. 

---

For a brief time, I ran cross country in college. My results are not inspiring. But my path to college athletics began during a heated dinner conversation in the winter of 2006 when I told my parents I was going to give up baseball. It was a decision my father didn’t really understand: why did I need to run all year round? 

The previous fall I’d had a decent cross country season for a sophomore. Especially with the limited training I’d done the previous summer. After a string of races that showed promise, I ended up with a hairline fracture in my leg that resulted from running a race on an already stress-fractured leg. I ended up in a hard cast for a month. For me, the injury did not prompt questions about whether running was a viable long-term pursuit — was there, for instance, something anatomically that would disadvantage me as a long distance runner? — but instead convinced me that a tighter focus on running is what would stave off these injuries in the future. 

In the spring of 2006, the first during which I gave up baseball to pursue distance running as a singular pursuit, I ended up with a lingering shin injury and eventually my season ended with torn ankle ligaments after hitting a rock the wrong way on a run. For the second time in six months, I was in a hard cast. 

The next summer’s training led to a fall with a nagging hip injury. My results did not improve from the prior year. I survived the season, however, without a cast. Then the winter and spring of 2007 proved relatively injury free. And the results were just good enough that the opportunity to run in college was realistic. This, of course, had been the point all along. 

---

In March, the public was made aware of something we all sort of knew was happening, we just didn’t know how. Rich parents were buying their way into college. 

And while the FBI explicitly outlined that putting your name on a building and getting your descendants admission to an elite university as a result is not illegal, paying someone to take the SATs for your kid is. So is sending money to a fixer who sends some money to a college coach who then makes a spot for your kid on a team. Even if they’ve never played the sport. But the system that I think was laid most bare in Operation Varsity Blues is found in the name: it’s about the sports. 

If you watch any college sports, you’ve see a version of this commercial before: “There are over 400,000 NCAA student athletes,” we’re told, “and most of them will be going pro in something other than sports.

And so while the NBA is worried about the load borne by kids playing over 100 games a year between AAU and their school-sponsored team, for those kids the NCAA is the finish line. 

And as the FBI’s investigation into college admissions bribery outlined, one of the surest ways to overachieve your academic limitations is to be a good athlete. 

---

My modest success running long distances encouraged both of my brothers — always superior athletes to me — to pursue running both at a younger age and more seriously than myself. Both of them had considerable success. Both of them attended elite universities they would never have been accepted to based on their academic achievements as a result of this athletic success. The specialization that came to the Udland family ultimately worked out. 

Most weekends in the summer now we play golf together. None of us are particularly great. But the thing with golf is that everyone always thinks that if they could just spend more time practicing... So when we get together, the conversation sometimes leads to “what could have beens” about how things might be if we’d focused on, say, the three sports we all played as young kids (football, basketball, baseball) once we got to high school. Or what kind of golfers we could be if we’d played in high school, and so on. 

It’s the idle talk of former athletes re-living a not-lived version of their glory days. But what these conversations usually ignore is that the specialization we might now dream away was the right decision. It opened to each of us a college experience that would have otherwise been impossible. 

And so when we speak of the ills of youth sports, we must remember that the parents are not motivated because of professional sports, but about college sports. And while playing a sport in college is not realistic for most youth athletes, it is way more realistic than playing a professional sport. And the benefits — namely, an education at a university you might otherwise not be qualified to attend — are worth the risks of having more fun as a kid. Or, at least, that’s how many parents see it. 

---

When I sat down to write this piece, I don’t think I meant to apologize for youth sports culture. And I’m not sure I really did. But re-reading this piece it seems that I have a lot of sympathy for a culture that directs money away from families who don’t have a lot to spare and takes time away from kids who won’t ever get their youth back. 

The youth sports industry is fueled by bitter parents who think things should’ve gone a different way and put that anxiety on a child who is not equipped to know they’re but a pawn in an insecure adult’s do-over. Youth sports should be fun. And for many kids, they are not. 

But the incentives that underwrite the youth sports industry are also not hard to decipher. Athletic achievement for many kids unlocks academic — and in turn, professional — doors that otherwise don’t exist. You can be a national level concert pianist and make your pitch to Harvard on that basis, but if you’re a high school boy that breaks 9:00 for the 2 mile, you’re pretty much in. 

This argument is also the one used by NCAA executives who believe that paying college athletes is not justified. “They get an education,” you hear the amateurism defender saying. “That’s the payment.” And for an Olympic sport athlete, this may well be true. For the members of a major football program where television rights and ticket sales bring in tens of millions of dollars a year, this argument is obfuscating bullshit. 

This argument also leaves out the kids who end up at schools they aren’t really qualified to attend. But the lack of investment in public schools in America is beyond the scope of this post. (The demonization of public schools is one of our nation’s most shameful public policy stances.) 

Holmes’ article simply struck a chord for me because the NBA viewing itself as a relevant stakeholder in the culture of youth sports seems to me like an odd position for the league to take.

The league is defined by a dozen or so stars and their backgrounds are highly varied. LeBron James was The Chosen One at age 16 and has, improbably, exceeded that hype. Kevin Durant went to a major university to play college ball, was a star from the beginning of his freshman season, then entered the league and was one of its best players within three years. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were overlooked high school players, mid-first round picks, and have grown into themselves. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s journey to the NBA from Greece earned the 60 Minutes treatment. 

All of which is to say that the NBA’s worry about youth sports matters little to the league’s players that actually define for the public what the sport really is about. Which is about stars. 

Certainly, some NBA general managers would like the deeper parts of the league’s pool to be more mobile and less injury prone. The freak leg fracture suffered by Julius Randle — a product of the AAU system and the University of Kentucky’s NBA farm system — was certainly a blow to Randle, his family, and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

But the lesser versions of Julius Randle, the kid from Dayton he played in a summer league tournament back in 2011 that ended up getting a scholarship to Kent State, probably doesn’t regret his choice to overextend himself during high school summers. Because while that kid might’ve had his eye on Ohio State, a scholarship came through. The gamble paid off. 

And when you’re at a desk making calls to sell P&C insurance in suburban Cleveland, you don’t worry about your chronically stiff ankle in the morning. 

Instead you wonder what could’ve been with your buddies, knowing it worked out just fine.