Random Thoughts - Part Deux [NO POLITICS]

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

Ya, unfortunately I've got Kaiser, ..

I've had Kaiser my entire life.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Yep, based on my current calculations, I can retire 5 years after I'm dead.

I've only worked for one company that had a pension, and I only worked there 3 years. While I was there they had to vest everyone in the pension plan because they made a change to it. So, I do know that I have a guaranteed retirement income of $145 + Social Security per month.

Fortunately, MomHawk has a pension through work and we can pretty well live off of it's projected benefit. I also have a substantial 401K (been saving 15% of my income since I was in my late 20s) but I'm no where near the amount of money that makes me feel comfortable that it won't "run out" at some point no matter what the charts say.

To complicate it, my family history says you either barely make it to 70 or you live well into your 90's so I can't even use that as a guide.

Yea, I'm lucky, mine is one of the last 401(a) defined benefit plans, so I don't have to worry about it running out, just California going bankrupt. That's why I'm all for bigger government in California to feed the pyramid.


History shows I will probably be lucky to make it to 80. Dad was the oldest male yet in the family and passed 60 days before his 80th birthday.


I initially was going to work to about 62, but I'm taking Humfrz's and my mom's advice and doing it now.

[bcj]

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

On the plus side, my knee is feeling much better. Starting to be able to put weight on it, so I might be able to ditch the crutches by the weekend.

That's what I thought last May when the Doc said No Load for 6 to 8 weeks.
Got the crutches and used them a few weeks. Way too awkward to get around in the house.
Started using a cane and seemed to be getting much better until the end of August.
At the end of two days of gimping up and down the beach on the cane, I couldn't put weight on it at all.

I've been back on the crutches since then - no exceptions - for a few more weeks.
Doing my penance for ignoring the Dr.
I know what works best for me, right?

Nope.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by p1l0t

insurance company should not have so much power over doctor's recommendation

Not so much Kaiser controlling it but their "process". Just feels like my Dr. has to follow some protocol of assessing me, letting me heal, sending me to PT, etc. before even getting referred to a specialist, let alone a surgeon

Originally Posted by wolffbite

Yeah, that's a big bummer.

I remember I bought GTA5 on launch for PS3 and then the second it came out for PC I bought it again. Completely different experience.

I already talked myself out of it. Dropping $500 on a console and game would be a poor financial decision with Christmas coming up... and with all the other things I am trying to save for next year. My responsible brain is not letting my reckless brain have any fun.

Ya, I very briefly considered getting a PS4 Pro or a One X after seeing how much better the game looked on it, but like you, realized that X-mas season is coming (ie here kids, take all my money). The regular PS4 version is still pretty good imho, frame rates at steady 30 fps (not like you're moving fast enough to need it anyway) and the graphics are still a huge leap compared to the first one.

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

I've had Kaiser my entire life.

I've had a regular PPO for most of my life, so I've been going to the same family Dr. as my parent have for the last 10 yrs. I just recently switched over to Kaiser because that's what my work offered. On one hand, I appreciate all the convenience (no need to take trips across town to see the Dr, go to the lab, pharmacy etc, they are all in the same building!). On the other hand, I feel like I don't really build a relationship with my Dr.

Originally Posted by bcj

I know what works best for me, right?

Nope.

Ya, I guess I'll stay on the crutches. They are just such a PITA. I'm sore in the wierdest places from it ie armpits and forearms lol

I really just want it to feel better, but everybody that I've talked to that had similar injuries have told me it will take at least a year, maybe 2 and it will never be 100%

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

I've had a regular PPO for most of my life, so I've been going to the same family Dr. as my parent have for the last 10 yrs. I just recently switched over to Kaiser because that's what my work offered. On one hand, I appreciate all the convenience (no need to take trips across town to see the Dr, go to the lab, pharmacy etc, they are all in the same building!). On the other hand, I feel like I don't really build a relationship with my Dr.

I've had the same GP for 20 years. She is a little Chinese gal my same age. We have a great relationship. My cardiologist is the best Doctor I have ever had. My current hand surgeon in plastic surgery is a brilliant vascular surgeon. If you need a hand re-attached, he is your guy. You just need to learn how to play the system. You tell then you want an MRI and a referral to orthopedics.


One thing I dread about moving is losing my doctors. I go to the Santa Teresa (now called San Jose) Kaiser.

[Sapphireho]

It is going to be 85 degrees here tomorrow. It is nice and all, but man we need some rain.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

You just need to learn how to play the system. You tell then you want an MRI and a referral to orthopedics.

Ya, I'm sure there are plenty of great doctors here. After I injury, the very first thing I requested from my doctor was an MRI and a referral to a specialist since I was so freaked out and in pain. He was the one who insisted that I try regular treatment and physical therapy first. Maybe it's just my doctor? Maybe I should just be "that guy" who insists that there is something wrong and that I'm not crazy?

[wolffbite]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

It is going to be 85 degrees here tomorrow. It is nice and all, but man we need some rain.

I'd send some of ours down to you if I could.

We've had flash flooding all over the place here for the last 2 days. 2-3 inches of rain over the last 24 hours.

Had a bit of flooding in the bathrooms of our ground floor office today when we came in.

And now it's clear and sunny. Classic Vancouver weather.

[p1l0t]

Originally Posted by wolffbite

Yeah, that's a big bummer.

I remember I bought GTA5 on launch for PS3 and then the second it came out for PC I bought it again. Completely different experience.

I already talked myself out of it. Dropping $500 on a console and game would be a poor financial decision with Christmas coming up... and with all the other things I am trying to save for next year. My responsible brain is not letting my reckless brain have any fun.

By the PS4 for the kids for Christmas... :smart:

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

[bcj]

Got the same when I went in.
1) 2 weeks - take more ibuprofen, then we'll see.
2) well, that didn't work. Schedule with the bone specialist.
3) X-rays. That shows nothing either. Schedule MRI
4) Oh! You've crushed the end of your femur. Sucks to be you huh?

Took a month just to get a useful diagnosis.
Sometimes an asprin works and the patient doesn't come back.
They can divert a lot of time wasters that way, but it's very frustrating if you broke bruh.

It's been standard medical practice since the plague doctors.
Don't think that it'll change soon.

[wolffbite]

Originally Posted by p1l0t

By the PS4 for the kids for Christmas... :smart:

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

I'm even smarter than that, no kids or SO to spend my money on so it's all for me!

That's part of why I'm able to have a high end PC which I greatly prefer over consoles... better gaming experience IMO and I get to scratch my organizational itch by making all the cables look neat and pretty.

[p1l0t]

Originally Posted by wolffbite

I'm even smarter than that, no kids or SO to spend my money on so it's all for me!

That's part of why I'm able to have a high end PC which I greatly prefer over consoles... better gaming experience IMO and I get to scratch my organizational itch by making all the cables look neat and pretty.

I prefer PC too, but I do have a Gold PS4

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[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by wolffbite

That's part of why I'm able to have a high end PC which I greatly prefer over consoles... better gaming experience IMO and I get to scratch my organizational itch by making all the cables look neat and pretty.

Originally Posted by p1l0t

I prefer PC too, but I do have a Gold PS4

I prefer consoles 90% of the time since I have very limited play time and prefer not to have to d*ck around to squeeze 30min to an hour in. On certain games tho, like sim racers, I have a dedicated gaming PC for.


Already considering stepping up from my gtx970 to something else after seeing the Dirt Rally 2 announcement lol

[x808drifter]

For those of you that do have RDR on console.
Turn the HDR off.

It's not real HDR and is just acting like a brightness slider.
The number in the setting is directly tied to the nit output, so at most it's 500nit.

Problem is that for some stupid reason the HDR for RDR only has a 100nit range from white to black.

Laymans:
Blacks should always be 0.
At 100 the blacks are at 0 level.
101 blacks at 1.
500 blacks are at 400.