This is so sad. She didn't look too well at the Golden Globes. May she rest in peace. https://people.com/music/lisa-marie-presley-dead-at-54/
If they do an autopsy, they'll probably find heart disease. I've always been in pretty good shape, but I've put on some weight in the last 3 years, and my blood pressure has been a problem since I was in my 20s. Well, today--TODAY--I found out I have an aortic aneurysm that is no joke. I don't need surgery, and I may never need it. but here's the rub: I discovered it because I voluntarily went to a cardiologist for preventative care. Yep. I walked in, set up a bank of tests, and let him have at it. Stress test good, oxygen sat good, calcium ok, echo good, even my blood pressure is managed. But there it was--a ticking time bomb. And I would not know about it if I hadn't just decided (actually, my wife the nurse practitioner decided) to go in and get checked out. Now, I should be fine and I will probably die from something else. But cancer in November and now this. Wow. Oh, and the cost to me for all of this? About 75 bucks (for one test that wasn't covered). The rest was covered by two government-provided insurance plans. I'm the beneficiary of socialized medicine and I think everyone should be.
Indeed, Rich. So does every other developed nation - except the US. I hope change comes. Glad to know of the good prognosis and wish you continued health. Maybe it's a good time for you to break out a bit of Knob Creek and relax. Prescribed by non-Dr. Johann, who hasn't allowed himself any for about 18 years. Good for others but not for him, because he would get to like it WAY too much.
Funny about that. I thought it would be hard to give that up. It wasn't. Not even once. Smoking? 45 years clean, now. Not difficult either, especially after a month or so. POTATO CHIPS? Took me TWO YEARS to get off those things!!
Sorry to hear of Lisa Marie's death. May she have the peace she could not find in life, and be at rest.
I sympathize deeply, Rich. My long-unrealized blood pressure issues were probably exacerbated in my 40+ drinking years, together with anger issues - and led to the crisis and surgery, 8 years ago. Nobody knew how sick I was until I practically fell off the treadmill on my first-ever stress-test, with a severe angina attack after about 90 seconds. Right from the treadmill to more tests - and same-day bypass surgery. Anyway, since you're denied the solace of fine whiskey, please accept my best wishes: yIn nI' DaSIQjaj 'ej bIchepjaj. "Live long and prosper," in Klingon.
Interestingly, her net worth is projected to be $12 million. A far cry less than she inherited. Loved her music...
So sorry about all that, Rich, but happy you had good results from the "bank of tests." I hope you take really good care of yourself. Is the cancer in remission?
Thanks. Skin cancer, so it's a less-than-lethal ongoing battle. Redhead growing up in San Diego and all that. The cardiac stuff is a blessing due to good insurance--it's no wonder so many people pass from preventable things. I was, and am, expressing my good fortune and wishing everyone had the same advantages. Okay, I got them because of my service to our country, but lots of people serve our country in many ways, and serve society in greater ways still. I just wish we considered some things a basic right--shelter, food, water, energy, income, health care, education, etc. Does everything have to be a competition from birth? (Where the starting points are hardly equal.) We are an incredibly wealthy society. Imagine what we could do if so many of us didn't have to worry about such things. To quote another, more substantial doctor, "Oh, the places you will go!" Liberated from Maslow's lower tiers, what would people be able to do and produce that would elevate us all?
I like the concept, Rich. I really do. Outside the fact that Donald Trump is one example of a person born free of "Maslow's lower tiers." It's not a panacea for innate malevolence or greed. But I think the good would outweigh the bad. Many people would be self-driven enough to excel at very beneficial things. Others would be lazy. If that's as bad as it gets -- I'm for it. But how? We may be an "incredibly wealthy society" in aggregate. But what you're saying, I think, would involve a huge redistribution of existing wealth. There are going to be some mighty sharp objections in the power-circles!
"Redhead growing up in SoCal?" Did you know the other "redhead Rich?" - "Richie Cunningham?" He'd have been reasonably contemporary with you, I think. Both of you did fine, as I see it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Howard
When I first joined the Air Force, that show was really popular. My friend from Compton, Chuck, used to call me "Cunningham" all the time. Ron Howard is several years older than I am. I grew up in San Diego, far away from Hollywood.
Which is why I led with "Imagine." Ironically, the people who would benefit the most would be the ones fighting it the...most. We're a society of zero-sum thinkers. Such a scheme would likely make the vast majority of people better off. This would be due to the productivity gains from so much unleashed human potential. (And yes, there would be some who contribute little, just as there are now.) The richest of the rich would be less well-off, but not so they'd notice in terms of lifestyle. Instead of this, we see politicians pulling in the opposite direction. The current House GOP intends to hold the debt ceiling--and our economic well-being--hostage in return for cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Can't get much more American than that!