Not sure how the Americans are going to sort out their health care issues. I can see both sides. Government run healthcare = bad. Private only health care = bad. It seems to me that health care costs in the region of $300-$400 a month, for someone young and healthy. (That's as much as buying the average car!). BUT they do have access to the best healthcare in the world - this money drives development of important drugs and treatments; something the NHS can never hope to achieve as we pour more and more tax £s into it with no significant improvement in service quality or efficiency.
Having said that, following the case of the lady in the news over here who developed breast cancer and tried to make a claim on her insurance policy for treatment. The insurance company rescinded her policy because she "didn't disclose health issues when she applied for the policy". The thing they were talking about? Warts on her hands. (Clearly, these don't have anything to do with breast cancer).
Luckily, she contacted her Senator and forced the insurance company to re-instate her policy, and pay for her treatment through the courts which took a couple of months - by which time, however, her cancer had got considerably worse... She has had the treatment though, and is recovering.
So - what to do... Obama's plan is currently suggesting that the Government has its own health care plan, which would compete with the private plans, however the down side of this would be that employers (who mainly provide health care as part of their employee benefits packages) might insist that employees use the Government plan instead, as it would be cheaper for them - thus converting the majority of private insurance plans to a Governement scheme - and effectively nationalising the health care system...
Its a big problem. But not for me.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hojo
Pmsl. Just watched a VW advert comparing a TDI Jetta and a Prius, the selling point for the Jetta was the noise it made! Its a diesel - L O L. It don't make a good noise... What you need for that, is a stonking great V8! Like the Tahoe! (Except you can't hear that, virtually at all).
Anyway. After several Budlights, it was funny.
Driving down the US17 from Virginia Beach to Wilmington, North Carolina, was fun. The Tahoe is growing on me all the time, loving the big truck, King of The Road feeling. Drove through a bit of Bible Belt, there was a section of road I must have passed like 50 churches or something. The houses all had lovely white picket fences too... The US17 was a one lane in either direction highway for most of todays journey, winding its way through the countryside - much better than taking the freeway, as it really opened up classic American towns and dwellings.
Arriving in Wilmington, there was just enough time to check out the USS North Carolina, a WW2 battleship permanently docked here. It was impressive, in its scale and fire power... and only $12 to get in!
Breakfast this morning was about 3000 calories; two eggs, bacon, home fries with peppers and onions, toast and coffee at the local breakfast place. Hmmmmmm. Thought I earned it after a run this morning. Ok, a half hearted 2 miler, but it was 72F! Skipped lunch (just - didn't see a Taco Bell, that's why), and been to a mexican for dinner. Lovely! On a par with Indian as my favourite meal. (When its done properly anyway - we just don't seem to be able to get this in England - except maybe that place in Wakey, if its still there). Anyway, there was a bunch of old women on the next table having their mexican meal - looked like a retirees reunion or something, one of the women - I really don't know how she managed to fit her ass on the chair, how the chair held up, or how it didn't manage to disappear totally - she got talking about software engineering in a southern drawl kind of way... It was simply bizarre.
Sleeping tonight in the Howard Johnson. Its a flea-ridden hell-hole just like the Ramada, Virginia Beach. Except half the price, which is lucky. I suppose its not that bad, you get what you pay for!
The weather is definitely improving the further south I go. 86F at the boat this afternoon, but the storm clouds are ever present...
Fuel cost so far: $80.
Miles travelled: ~800
Pounds put on: I only have to look at a hamburger and my man-boobs grow.
Anyway. After several Budlights, it was funny.
Driving down the US17 from Virginia Beach to Wilmington, North Carolina, was fun. The Tahoe is growing on me all the time, loving the big truck, King of The Road feeling. Drove through a bit of Bible Belt, there was a section of road I must have passed like 50 churches or something. The houses all had lovely white picket fences too... The US17 was a one lane in either direction highway for most of todays journey, winding its way through the countryside - much better than taking the freeway, as it really opened up classic American towns and dwellings.
Arriving in Wilmington, there was just enough time to check out the USS North Carolina, a WW2 battleship permanently docked here. It was impressive, in its scale and fire power... and only $12 to get in!
Breakfast this morning was about 3000 calories; two eggs, bacon, home fries with peppers and onions, toast and coffee at the local breakfast place. Hmmmmmm. Thought I earned it after a run this morning. Ok, a half hearted 2 miler, but it was 72F! Skipped lunch (just - didn't see a Taco Bell, that's why), and been to a mexican for dinner. Lovely! On a par with Indian as my favourite meal. (When its done properly anyway - we just don't seem to be able to get this in England - except maybe that place in Wakey, if its still there). Anyway, there was a bunch of old women on the next table having their mexican meal - looked like a retirees reunion or something, one of the women - I really don't know how she managed to fit her ass on the chair, how the chair held up, or how it didn't manage to disappear totally - she got talking about software engineering in a southern drawl kind of way... It was simply bizarre.
Sleeping tonight in the Howard Johnson. Its a flea-ridden hell-hole just like the Ramada, Virginia Beach. Except half the price, which is lucky. I suppose its not that bad, you get what you pay for!
The weather is definitely improving the further south I go. 86F at the boat this afternoon, but the storm clouds are ever present...
Fuel cost so far: $80.
Miles travelled: ~800
Pounds put on: I only have to look at a hamburger and my man-boobs grow.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Something interesting
Having been critisised (and probably quite rightly too) for visitng a lighthouse yesterday, I wanted to have something more interesting to tell you about today.
Driving the 6h journey from Atlantic City to Virginia Beach wasn't particularly interesting though. The trip consisted for the most part of driving South through Delaware, a lesser known US state, and taking the Chesapeake Bay Bridge / Tunnel to Virginia Beach. The Bridge Tunnel structure was impressive (sorry this will sound quite boring) as its about 20 miles long, spanning a huge stretch of the Atlantic Ocean. It starts off at a toll booth ($12 for cars), and heads over to a small naturally formed island. It then continues from the island out into the Atlantic. Looking all around from the bridge, all that can be viewed is ocean - apart from the road ahead. Its quite disconcerting. The road then dives into a man-made island and goes underground for a while, before popping out into the middle of the ocean again, and continues as a bridge. It completes a few miles, then dives into another man-made island and pops out of the other side and continues to the shore.
Although that doesn't sound particularly interesting, the feat of engineering is simply amazing. You had to be there.
This evening spent walking around Virginia Beach was ok, left the bad weather behind! 82F approximately 10 degrees warmer than Atlantic City. However, looks like I have spoken too soon, as the clouds seem to be building up and it looks like the rain is on its way...
The place itself is ok, bit seedy in parts with cheap Blackpool style T-shirt and souvenir shops.
Speaking of seedy, I don't like to spend a lot on hotel rooms, but this takes the biscuit! $110 a night doesn't buy you very much - believe me. I picked this one because its a Ramada; you'd think that they would be mediocre, but this one is particularly bad. Locks that don't work properly on the door, a safe you have to pay extra for, and quality which leaves a lot to be desired... oh well, its only for one night...
I also got chatting to a few locals. Stephanie, Jennifer, and Amy. All 19, blonde, and super fit. They were all wearing bikinis, and just loved my English accent. They couldn't get enough. So much so, in fact, that we spent the evening in a spa bath, drinking bud light, and getting wrecked among other things.
Ok so that last part is not true. But it was interesting to read though eh?!
Driving the 6h journey from Atlantic City to Virginia Beach wasn't particularly interesting though. The trip consisted for the most part of driving South through Delaware, a lesser known US state, and taking the Chesapeake Bay Bridge / Tunnel to Virginia Beach. The Bridge Tunnel structure was impressive (sorry this will sound quite boring) as its about 20 miles long, spanning a huge stretch of the Atlantic Ocean. It starts off at a toll booth ($12 for cars), and heads over to a small naturally formed island. It then continues from the island out into the Atlantic. Looking all around from the bridge, all that can be viewed is ocean - apart from the road ahead. Its quite disconcerting. The road then dives into a man-made island and goes underground for a while, before popping out into the middle of the ocean again, and continues as a bridge. It completes a few miles, then dives into another man-made island and pops out of the other side and continues to the shore.
Although that doesn't sound particularly interesting, the feat of engineering is simply amazing. You had to be there.
This evening spent walking around Virginia Beach was ok, left the bad weather behind! 82F approximately 10 degrees warmer than Atlantic City. However, looks like I have spoken too soon, as the clouds seem to be building up and it looks like the rain is on its way...
The place itself is ok, bit seedy in parts with cheap Blackpool style T-shirt and souvenir shops.
Speaking of seedy, I don't like to spend a lot on hotel rooms, but this takes the biscuit! $110 a night doesn't buy you very much - believe me. I picked this one because its a Ramada; you'd think that they would be mediocre, but this one is particularly bad. Locks that don't work properly on the door, a safe you have to pay extra for, and quality which leaves a lot to be desired... oh well, its only for one night...
I also got chatting to a few locals. Stephanie, Jennifer, and Amy. All 19, blonde, and super fit. They were all wearing bikinis, and just loved my English accent. They couldn't get enough. So much so, in fact, that we spent the evening in a spa bath, drinking bud light, and getting wrecked among other things.
Ok so that last part is not true. But it was interesting to read though eh?!
Zero Gravity Wedding?
Tim's Blog - Supplementary.
Just watching morning T.V. The worlds first Zero Gravity wedding has been performed over Cape Canaveral in a Zero Gravity Plane. $60,000. "Its amazing how resourceful you can be" says the groom, when questioned over the the cost of such a feat. "My heart hasn't stopped beating". Probably a good thing really.
Just watching morning T.V. The worlds first Zero Gravity wedding has been performed over Cape Canaveral in a Zero Gravity Plane. $60,000. "Its amazing how resourceful you can be" says the groom, when questioned over the the cost of such a feat. "My heart hasn't stopped beating". Probably a good thing really.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Donald Trump pays for lunch...
Went to the Atlantic City Boardwalk today. Started off quiet at 10:30am (well it is Sunday) with hardly anyone around. The Boardwalk is over 100 years old (and that's old in American terms). The array of shops and casinos was pretty impressive, the Americans certainly know how to build stuff - places like Blackpool could do with soaking up a bit of the knowledge, but there was just something missing...
A visit to Taj Mahal for coffee provided some light entertainment, as Donald Trump himself paid for my Tall Americano and 6" sub after I won $10 on the slots. Pity it wasn't more, but that's the ticket you see, leaving while you're ahead! Even by a fraction, being ahead is key. The thing is, its really difficult! Even for a non-gambler (ok, I've been to a casino before!) like me, the pull to put more money in the machine is incredible... You just might win more... and thats when you pay your taxes usually.
After the 'free' lunch, Absecon Lighthouse was the next stop. Its just a tourist attraction these days, as the light was turned off in 1933. Mariners complained that the light from the lighthouse was obscured by the lights of the Atlantic City skyline, and it was decommissioned. Ironically though, it has always been a tourist attraction - some 18,000 visitors per year since its opening in the mid 1800's. Stood chatting to the bloke that sits up there all day long waiting for tourists to climb the 228 steps to the top. He knew where Robin Hood Country was - as he had been once before! Nice view of Atlantic City skyline though, and the new building project (yet another hotel/casino) which has slowed up considerably lately, as the bank who part owns the project is having a few financial difficulties...
After the Lighthouse, went for a drive down to Cape May, where you can get a ferry for a small charge across to Lewes, Delaware. Cape May is a lovely little place, as are the few towns along the way. More upmarket than Atlantic City itself, but somehow very local - white painted wooden houses built on stilts (the spit of land down the coast from Atlantic City narrows considerably) to avoid the inevitable winter high tides. The further south you go, the better the weather though, and Cape May was considerably brighter than AC, where the damn clouds just don't seem to be lifting!
The truck is performing well, getting to like its foibles even. Despite the fact it is an archaic design, it is an iconic car - the quintessential American SUV. Although its a 4x4, it has virtually no ability off road, it guzzles gas, and it has almost no driver appeal in terms of its performance, but it does do a few things very well. You're very well insulated from the road, its comfortable, and unless they have an even bigger car than you, people just don't mess with it. To say the view of the road is 'commanding' is a bit of an understatement. The V8 does pack a small punch when worked hard (you can almost see the $$$ coming out of the back of the thing though) but usually idles away at just over 1000rpm - whatever speed you're doing. Tahoe. Everyone should have one.
Heading to Virginia City via Delaware tomorrow, and hopefully crossing the Chesapeake bay Bridge / tunnel. Lets see what that will bring.
Get me out of gambling town!
A visit to Taj Mahal for coffee provided some light entertainment, as Donald Trump himself paid for my Tall Americano and 6" sub after I won $10 on the slots. Pity it wasn't more, but that's the ticket you see, leaving while you're ahead! Even by a fraction, being ahead is key. The thing is, its really difficult! Even for a non-gambler (ok, I've been to a casino before!) like me, the pull to put more money in the machine is incredible... You just might win more... and thats when you pay your taxes usually.
After the 'free' lunch, Absecon Lighthouse was the next stop. Its just a tourist attraction these days, as the light was turned off in 1933. Mariners complained that the light from the lighthouse was obscured by the lights of the Atlantic City skyline, and it was decommissioned. Ironically though, it has always been a tourist attraction - some 18,000 visitors per year since its opening in the mid 1800's. Stood chatting to the bloke that sits up there all day long waiting for tourists to climb the 228 steps to the top. He knew where Robin Hood Country was - as he had been once before! Nice view of Atlantic City skyline though, and the new building project (yet another hotel/casino) which has slowed up considerably lately, as the bank who part owns the project is having a few financial difficulties...
After the Lighthouse, went for a drive down to Cape May, where you can get a ferry for a small charge across to Lewes, Delaware. Cape May is a lovely little place, as are the few towns along the way. More upmarket than Atlantic City itself, but somehow very local - white painted wooden houses built on stilts (the spit of land down the coast from Atlantic City narrows considerably) to avoid the inevitable winter high tides. The further south you go, the better the weather though, and Cape May was considerably brighter than AC, where the damn clouds just don't seem to be lifting!
The truck is performing well, getting to like its foibles even. Despite the fact it is an archaic design, it is an iconic car - the quintessential American SUV. Although its a 4x4, it has virtually no ability off road, it guzzles gas, and it has almost no driver appeal in terms of its performance, but it does do a few things very well. You're very well insulated from the road, its comfortable, and unless they have an even bigger car than you, people just don't mess with it. To say the view of the road is 'commanding' is a bit of an understatement. The V8 does pack a small punch when worked hard (you can almost see the $$$ coming out of the back of the thing though) but usually idles away at just over 1000rpm - whatever speed you're doing. Tahoe. Everyone should have one.
Heading to Virginia City via Delaware tomorrow, and hopefully crossing the Chesapeake bay Bridge / tunnel. Lets see what that will bring.
Get me out of gambling town!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
American Chinese
I managed to visit the supermarket and bought myself 24 cans of BudLight, a cooler, and some water for the ve-hicle. Better to buy the beer and drink it at the hotel ($13 for 24 cans!) than pay the $5 per beer at a restaurant...
Speaking of restaurants, just been to the local Chinese in Absecon. I was served with a bowl of chips (crisps) and two curious looking smaller bowls of sauces, one yellowy and one redish. On further investigation, it appears that English Mustard was the yellowy sauce and the redish one was sweet chilli. Not sure why they thought it was a good idea to serve crisps with English Mustard... perhaps the Americans think that English Mustard is a unique taste from the far east... It was also strange that I was served (to accompany the chips and English Mustard) with a pot of tea. Chinese tea, I was expecting. That weak, but hot tea that we get in England. No sir! I'm quite sure that the tea was of Tetleys origin. Strong, but with no sugar and milk, with a very Tetley-esque flavour... no wonder the waiter spent the evening looking at me funny. I just thought it was because I was alone (surely most restaurants have seen solitary diners before...); but no - I think he knew the game was up. Having an Englishman in the restaurant sampling the chips and mustard along with Tetley tea...
Speaking of restaurants, just been to the local Chinese in Absecon. I was served with a bowl of chips (crisps) and two curious looking smaller bowls of sauces, one yellowy and one redish. On further investigation, it appears that English Mustard was the yellowy sauce and the redish one was sweet chilli. Not sure why they thought it was a good idea to serve crisps with English Mustard... perhaps the Americans think that English Mustard is a unique taste from the far east... It was also strange that I was served (to accompany the chips and English Mustard) with a pot of tea. Chinese tea, I was expecting. That weak, but hot tea that we get in England. No sir! I'm quite sure that the tea was of Tetleys origin. Strong, but with no sugar and milk, with a very Tetley-esque flavour... no wonder the waiter spent the evening looking at me funny. I just thought it was because I was alone (surely most restaurants have seen solitary diners before...); but no - I think he knew the game was up. Having an Englishman in the restaurant sampling the chips and mustard along with Tetley tea...
Big Rain
Well I got here! The Continental Airlines flight from Manchester to Newark was better than expected, possibly 8.5 out of 10. One thing is for sure, I will definitely fly with them again. In the current climate for airlines, I was impressed with the efficiency and professionalism of the staff, as well as the up-to-date Boeing 757-200 plane. Ok, so it was a small plane with just 2 rows of 3x3 seats, but the ride was relatively smooth and the legroom was good - even managed a few minutes kip!
I do find it very funny though, that people must have plenty to drink before the flight and hold their bladders until they get on the plane! Sure enough, just after take-off, the fasten-your-seat belts sign goes out and 90% of the passengers all get out of their seats and rush to the lav... I'm suprised the plan managed to keep its nose up with the amount of people rushing forward...
Managed to get my rental car too. A Buick Lucerne? No. A Cadillac DTS? Erm No. We don't have any of those here Sir. More money please. One 2009 5.3ltr V8 Chevy Tahoe! Its got 320hp, not that you can tell. Most of those horses are sat on their backsides, on the third row of seats... Still it will do 20mpg on the highway... oooh.
Oh and guess what! Its RAINING! And this is no ordinary rain. Its what Dad sad. This is big, chunky, manly, rare steak eating American rain. Not the miserably British light rain, oh no.
I do find it very funny though, that people must have plenty to drink before the flight and hold their bladders until they get on the plane! Sure enough, just after take-off, the fasten-your-seat belts sign goes out and 90% of the passengers all get out of their seats and rush to the lav... I'm suprised the plan managed to keep its nose up with the amount of people rushing forward...
Managed to get my rental car too. A Buick Lucerne? No. A Cadillac DTS? Erm No. We don't have any of those here Sir. More money please. One 2009 5.3ltr V8 Chevy Tahoe! Its got 320hp, not that you can tell. Most of those horses are sat on their backsides, on the third row of seats... Still it will do 20mpg on the highway... oooh.
Oh and guess what! Its RAINING! And this is no ordinary rain. Its what Dad sad. This is big, chunky, manly, rare steak eating American rain. Not the miserably British light rain, oh no.
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