Rants & Raves

I read an article about jobs for disabled. I agree with this article. Vocational Rehabilitation has a lot of resources and help to get disable people back to work. And Employ U works with them to help out, and that is great. But the jobs in the area does not seem to want to employ disabled workers. I wish the employers would work with Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment agents to help people with disabilities that can work, get work. The employment agencies and rehabilitation are doing a great job but they need a little more help getting people back to work. This help will be a big help to all of the people that are wanting to work again and also the agencies that are working hard to help people become employed again.

Medical care is not what it used to be

Upon leaving my specialist's office recently, I drove home approximately 15 miles and had a lot to ponder over. The week before I had my car serviced, and felt it received more attention than I did by my physician. Overbooking by medical staff equals long waiting times; no problem, I had my tablet, they had WiFi.

Being seen by a medical assistant, who assumed that I knew the receptionist should have downloaded my current meds (that was the inference), no problem. You read them to me, and I will yay or nay.

I was then seen by a PA-C who has no bedside manner, no problem, she's never been friendly and is the epitome of complacency. Why choose the field, when your attitude is so poor?

My waiting time was approaching an hour and still no doctor, no problem.

With my medical record on the computer in plain sight and boredom setting in, I took a gander. No mention of my succinct description of my condition to date, just a sentence of my personality as determined by Miss Congeniality. In addition, the exam from my first consult in 2017, including my under weight status noted, all appeared as if current. Of course, none of this was rectified. No it's assumed that Medicare will pay for the higher level evaluation, despite the inaccuracy.

I brought this to the doctor's attention and I was simply blown off. I left with a prescription written incorrectly, per the pharmacy, along with a follow-up visit, not with the doctor, despite my request. No it was with the PA-C who has failed to establish a patient following after 15 plus years with the doctor.

I was seen by the medical assistant, his physician assistant, and minutes with the specialist (who also could be heard taking personal phone calls on my time). All in all, little to nothing was accomplished, I needed and deserved more quality time than received. Now we have a problem.

Internet should be a utility

I have never had Cable TV because I get everything I need from an antenna and by renting DVD's. But the Internet has become a necessity. Banking, taxes, airline tickets, hotel reservations, and municipal billing have all moved online. Even my doctors, dentist, and other providers are now using email to contact me. There is no way anyone can get by without Internet service these days.

So why is my Internet bill so expensive? It is now twice as expensive as my water bill and about the same as my electric bill. How can that make any sense?

The Water Department has to obtain water, filter it, treat it, and then pass it through a maze of pipes to my house. The Electric Company has to buy fuel, generate electricity, and then pass it through their wires to my house.

The cable company doesn't have to generate anything because all my Internet content comes from my bank, or Google, or Face-book, or Wikipedia, or Amazon, or the websites of various municipal services. All the cable company has to do is pass my content through their tiny wires to my house.

I use less than 10% of my GB allowance, yet the cable company has no plan for us seniors that are on limited income. I am considering terminating my service and going to the library for Internet.

I think the city should make Internet service a utility. It's no longer a luxury only for the people that can afford it.

Robo calls

The best way to reduce robo calls is to not answer. Screen your calls via answering machine. Don't pick up the phone period. It takes awhile, but they will reduce in frequency. The Do Not Call registry is useless. These annoying calls are here to stay. Being unable to disconnect (the phone to avoid) these calls in the event of having to call 911

(means they) SHOULD BE OUTLAWED!

Inspections were a hassle

Florida had auto inspections for many years. It was wildly unpopular. A study showed that of the top 50 causes of auto accidents, equipment problems, the kind of things that are picked up during the annual inspection, was number 49. It simply wasn't cost effective.

Everybody loathed it. It was offered weekdays only, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so you had to take off work. Long lines of cars idling, waiting, sometimes for hours, constant exhaust fumes and pollution. Hot days, hot cars, hot tempers. The thousands of inspectors had to be paid, out of our taxes. Commercial property, the inspection stations, off the tax rolls.

Former Gov. Bob Martinez promised to end auto inspections and was elected because of this promise. Modern cars are also far more durable than they were in the 1950s, they simply don't need constant inspections. If you really want to make our roads safer, put down the cell phone and drive.