My $80 education
April 11th, 2007
absurd, critical thinking, education, peak oil
My wife - to whom I am devoted - suffered a tick bite in turn giving her a great deal of “consternation” about contracting Lyme disease. So we took a trip to the local health care clinic to see if some prophylactic antibiotics might be in order. Yup. Looks like a tick bite.Well, no antibiotics yet… wait until there are overt symptoms before we otherwise indiscriminately prescribe an antibiotic. Overt symptoms… hummm.
While patiently sitting in the waiting area, I was amused by the bustle of activity displayed by the office staff. Constant motion. And quite a staff! I can understand better the cost of health care. this form and that form; this insurance and that insurance form; this release and that release.
But most interesting was the poster on the wall showing the relative levels of that nasty toxin mercury that can be found in the various species of fresh water fish that one might harvest from a local lake! Wow. Now the Mad Hatter - as we all know - was “mad” from using mercury in the felting of hats. So we know mercury is a bad thing. Of course for years they were stuffing it our teeth as an amalgam. Surprised we didn’t have a massive class action suit against the American Dental Association. Not enough deep pockets I guess.
Anyway to return to the thread here… Should you and I really be concerned about the levels of mercury in our local fishery? Apparently. Something else to fear.
So, while waiting for my wife’s prognosis, I was “informed” (”educated”?) that eating local fish might be bad for me - and especially for pregnant women! Ha! On the other-hand, some say pregnant women shold be eating more fish! Ha! go figure. Anyway, as I have no health insurance, the visit to the doc cost me $80. Fortunately, my wife has no overt symptoms. But I do.
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