Hi Joan. Came across your podcast when I saw you referenced something I wrote years ago about truthiness and critical thinking. As to this topic... . Expats who pay into Medicare are generally not covered for services overseas. Private providers who contract with Medicare usually require recipients to live within their service area for six months a year. The residency requirements are a little baffling since getting medical care overseas is generally a good deal cheaper than comparable care in the US.
I am thrilled you stopped by and commented, Patrick. I did indeed reference your piece on critical thinking in this newsletter—twice I think. I used "Truthiness and Critical Thinking" for years as the first handout in my writing and other classes. My students raved about it, and I still love it and refer to it often...so a huge thank you! I believe you quote the "attitudes" of a critical thinker, and I highlighted that word choice as key.
Thanks for this additional information about expats—I did not look into this issue, but it is baffling expats would not be covered by Medicare if they had not relinquished citizenship...? An interesting topic to explore.
Great topic Joan! I like Erl’s comment below about the growing deficit; however, according to “something” I read / watched recently - as long as the economy is growing (or outgrowing) the deficit or alongside it at a ratio the US Govt is “ok” with - then inflation is as cyclical as global warming - which I agree - climate change is a pattern that anyone with Google can look up. Does human pollution contribute to making it worse? Idk.
I’d love to see ALL Americans have the same access to fair wages and the same health insurance as the Congressman we elect who vote on the passage of minimum wage, their salaries, and Medicaid/Medicare.
Do these representatives receive healthcare for the rest of their lives after they leave office is another curiosity?
America has a real health problem: we’re way too fat. Diabetes, CVD, cancer. All caused from the shitty food we eat.
Which is “approved” by the FDA and RDA and DOAgriculture as safe and healthy.
We know fructose is poisonous. We know white Bread is too. We know Saturated fats are toxic. So why do our representatives allow them to be produced in ALL processed foods, restaurants, and grocery stores? And sell them and allow us to consume this poison? Idk
If Americans had better food, we’d be healthier, we’d need billions or trillions less in healthcare every year.
My best friend was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s. He was denied disability 3X!!!
I’m assuming that’s Medicaid or Medicare services. That’s just good government.
II believe RFK is the best choice who wants solutions and refuses to do the finger pointing of partisan politics.
I certainly agree with you on the food issue you raise. Even the smartest people appear to have no clue what healthy (or real) food is. I must beg to differ, however, with both your and Erl's contention that the climate is not really changing (just cyclical) and this drastic change that we are currently living through is not caused by humans and their trashing of the earth, including spewing massive amounts of carbon dioxide for well over 100 years. Forget Google :-) look up BillMcKibben (who has an excellent Substack newsletter) and Bill Weir, among many others. The science is overwhelming.
As to RFK, Jr.... I used to admire him tremendously and still do for his extensive and aggressive environmental work for the NRDC. I heard him speak numerous times and have a book he's written "The Riverkeepers" signed by him at a speaking event. However, I do not agree with what he has said about vaccines— proven they have saved many millions of lives. He does make some good points on other issues, and I think he's being way vilified by the press. I hero-worship his late father and worked for his Uncle Ted, but he does seem to unneccesarily embrace conspiracy theories.
I do believe that Climate Change is happening. I am just not sure HOW much is man/woman-made...carbon dioxide. A big chunk of climate change - according to data from NASA - is related to shallow tilling farming practices all over the world.
The ONLY reason I scratch my head with the human attribution is whenever I ask folks if they've ever been on the ocean - most will say, "Of course! I've been to Florida! To the beach!"
- My response, is "that's NOT the same."
The conversation continues...
"When you take a boat out ON THE OCEAN - you have zero foundation to compare its vastness to anything. When people talk about water conservation, water quality, etc...they have never seen (nor have I) the expanse of the world's water we call "the ocean" - even though I've only been on the Atlantic and a small part of the Pacific." (there's a few more oceans - 7?; Indian, Artic, etc.)
My point is - The earth is HUGE. (its atmosphere as well)
Do you know what Cruise ships do with their human waste? (as well as yacht and small vessels) Not to mention U.S. Naval battleships that have 1,000's of soldiers / passengers on?
- They DUMP it overboard - whenever they are FAR OUT TO SEA.
“The regulations state that the sewage must first be cleansed before it may be discharged into the ocean, and the ship must be located at least four nautical miles away from the closest shore to comply with the regulations.”
Why?
Because the ocean is HUGE. And self-cleansing.
So is the atmosphere. IMO
Airlines routinely "DUMP FUEL" when they are too heavy. (this is anecdotal - I got this information from my brother-in-law - who has been a Captain with American Airlines for 35 years)
I've seen data (peer reviewed articles) that says 99.7% of climatologist agree Climate Change is happening. But - when you read further - their consensus on WHAT/(WHO) causes it is far less clear.
The research on 11,944 studies actually found that only 3,974 even expressed a view on the issue. Of those, just 64 (1.6%) said humans are the main cause. [54]
A Purdue University survey found that 47% of climatologists challenge the idea that humans are primarily responsible for climate change and instead believe that climate change is caused by an equal combination of humans and the environment (37%), mostly by the environment (5%), or that there’s not enough information to say (5%). [173]
As far as RFK - I love that he's asking the hard questions. I agree with you - he's being vilified in the press for sure. I don't think he's EVER said he's "anti-vax" = at his recent Congressional testimony - he repeatedly said that he and his family are fully vaccinated.
He definitely is asking whether vax mandates are necessary. He is definitely asking if there are links with Vax and other things such as autism. He is definitely asking "Why does not ONE of the 72 recommended vaccines not have to go thru pre-licensing placebo safety trial?"
I certainly miss our conversations, too! I don't think I'll be returning to Columbus State, though, and I'm still working to get my fully remote "dream" job!
I suggest the elephant in the room is the deficit in the federal budget and the accelerating interest rates that will balloon the refinancing problem. So, it boils down to priorities. I respectfully suggest that climate change is a natural phenomenon and the demonization of carbon dioxide and the associate expenditures are unwarranted. Then there is the warring. I think RF Kennedy Jn offers some policy alternatives that will set the ship aright but it will not be a quick fix.
Thanks for your comment, Erl! As I said to Zin, above, I do respectfully disagree with your opinion on climate change—the scientific evidence is overwhelming that everything (our air, seas, land) is warming to an incredibly dangerous degree...and it is specifically and directly caused by human pollution. I get the deficit idea, but don't understand the relationship between refinancing problems and increasing medicaid/mediare denials... ?
Surface temperature has increased in winter in both hemispheres. That's entirely beneficial because temperatures are suboptimal and plants grow little of very slowly in June-July.
In the northern hemisphere temperatures are conditioned by the extent of cloud cover. As the continents heat up, so does the air so that relative humidity fall and with it cloud cover. Then more radiation reaches the surface. Warming is strongest in urban areas where there is less or no vegetation to cool the air via leaf transpiration. The loss of cloud causes the average temperature of the Earth to reach a maximum in July, when solar radiation is weakest. This demonstrates the importance of cloud cover. It's not possible to measure changes in cloud cover yet. So, this factor can not be ruled out. Those who claim that humanity is responsible for the slight warming that has occurred are not following the principles of logical argument, ie science.
Patrick Mattimore
Hi Joan. Came across your podcast when I saw you referenced something I wrote years ago about truthiness and critical thinking. As to this topic... . Expats who pay into Medicare are generally not covered for services overseas. Private providers who contract with Medicare usually require recipients to live within their service area for six months a year. The residency requirements are a little baffling since getting medical care overseas is generally a good deal cheaper than comparable care in the US.
I am thrilled you stopped by and commented, Patrick. I did indeed reference your piece on critical thinking in this newsletter—twice I think. I used "Truthiness and Critical Thinking" for years as the first handout in my writing and other classes. My students raved about it, and I still love it and refer to it often...so a huge thank you! I believe you quote the "attitudes" of a critical thinker, and I highlighted that word choice as key.
Thanks for this additional information about expats—I did not look into this issue, but it is baffling expats would not be covered by Medicare if they had not relinquished citizenship...? An interesting topic to explore.
Great topic Joan! I like Erl’s comment below about the growing deficit; however, according to “something” I read / watched recently - as long as the economy is growing (or outgrowing) the deficit or alongside it at a ratio the US Govt is “ok” with - then inflation is as cyclical as global warming - which I agree - climate change is a pattern that anyone with Google can look up. Does human pollution contribute to making it worse? Idk.
I’d love to see ALL Americans have the same access to fair wages and the same health insurance as the Congressman we elect who vote on the passage of minimum wage, their salaries, and Medicaid/Medicare.
Do these representatives receive healthcare for the rest of their lives after they leave office is another curiosity?
America has a real health problem: we’re way too fat. Diabetes, CVD, cancer. All caused from the shitty food we eat.
Which is “approved” by the FDA and RDA and DOAgriculture as safe and healthy.
We know fructose is poisonous. We know white Bread is too. We know Saturated fats are toxic. So why do our representatives allow them to be produced in ALL processed foods, restaurants, and grocery stores? And sell them and allow us to consume this poison? Idk
If Americans had better food, we’d be healthier, we’d need billions or trillions less in healthcare every year.
My best friend was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s. He was denied disability 3X!!!
I’m assuming that’s Medicaid or Medicare services. That’s just good government.
II believe RFK is the best choice who wants solutions and refuses to do the finger pointing of partisan politics.
Hi Zin! Thanks for your comment.
I certainly agree with you on the food issue you raise. Even the smartest people appear to have no clue what healthy (or real) food is. I must beg to differ, however, with both your and Erl's contention that the climate is not really changing (just cyclical) and this drastic change that we are currently living through is not caused by humans and their trashing of the earth, including spewing massive amounts of carbon dioxide for well over 100 years. Forget Google :-) look up BillMcKibben (who has an excellent Substack newsletter) and Bill Weir, among many others. The science is overwhelming.
As to RFK, Jr.... I used to admire him tremendously and still do for his extensive and aggressive environmental work for the NRDC. I heard him speak numerous times and have a book he's written "The Riverkeepers" signed by him at a speaking event. However, I do not agree with what he has said about vaccines— proven they have saved many millions of lives. He does make some good points on other issues, and I think he's being way vilified by the press. I hero-worship his late father and worked for his Uncle Ted, but he does seem to unneccesarily embrace conspiracy theories.
Agreed! (mostly) lol :)
I do believe that Climate Change is happening. I am just not sure HOW much is man/woman-made...carbon dioxide. A big chunk of climate change - according to data from NASA - is related to shallow tilling farming practices all over the world.
Check out: Kiss the Ground (Netflix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3-V1j-zMZw
The ONLY reason I scratch my head with the human attribution is whenever I ask folks if they've ever been on the ocean - most will say, "Of course! I've been to Florida! To the beach!"
- My response, is "that's NOT the same."
The conversation continues...
"When you take a boat out ON THE OCEAN - you have zero foundation to compare its vastness to anything. When people talk about water conservation, water quality, etc...they have never seen (nor have I) the expanse of the world's water we call "the ocean" - even though I've only been on the Atlantic and a small part of the Pacific." (there's a few more oceans - 7?; Indian, Artic, etc.)
My point is - The earth is HUGE. (its atmosphere as well)
Do you know what Cruise ships do with their human waste? (as well as yacht and small vessels) Not to mention U.S. Naval battleships that have 1,000's of soldiers / passengers on?
- They DUMP it overboard - whenever they are FAR OUT TO SEA.
“The regulations state that the sewage must first be cleansed before it may be discharged into the ocean, and the ship must be located at least four nautical miles away from the closest shore to comply with the regulations.”
Why?
Because the ocean is HUGE. And self-cleansing.
So is the atmosphere. IMO
Airlines routinely "DUMP FUEL" when they are too heavy. (this is anecdotal - I got this information from my brother-in-law - who has been a Captain with American Airlines for 35 years)
I've seen data (peer reviewed articles) that says 99.7% of climatologist agree Climate Change is happening. But - when you read further - their consensus on WHAT/(WHO) causes it is far less clear.
The research on 11,944 studies actually found that only 3,974 even expressed a view on the issue. Of those, just 64 (1.6%) said humans are the main cause. [54]
A Purdue University survey found that 47% of climatologists challenge the idea that humans are primarily responsible for climate change and instead believe that climate change is caused by an equal combination of humans and the environment (37%), mostly by the environment (5%), or that there’s not enough information to say (5%). [173]
As far as RFK - I love that he's asking the hard questions. I agree with you - he's being vilified in the press for sure. I don't think he's EVER said he's "anti-vax" = at his recent Congressional testimony - he repeatedly said that he and his family are fully vaccinated.
He definitely is asking whether vax mandates are necessary. He is definitely asking if there are links with Vax and other things such as autism. He is definitely asking "Why does not ONE of the 72 recommended vaccines not have to go thru pre-licensing placebo safety trial?"
(start counter at 48:00 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLW9s6NpS7w
I'd love to see your autographed book!
PLEASE come back to CSCC - so we can continue these AMAZING conversations!!!
:)
Miss you so much Joan!
I certainly miss our conversations, too! I don't think I'll be returning to Columbus State, though, and I'm still working to get my fully remote "dream" job!
Great post Joan.
I suggest the elephant in the room is the deficit in the federal budget and the accelerating interest rates that will balloon the refinancing problem. So, it boils down to priorities. I respectfully suggest that climate change is a natural phenomenon and the demonization of carbon dioxide and the associate expenditures are unwarranted. Then there is the warring. I think RF Kennedy Jn offers some policy alternatives that will set the ship aright but it will not be a quick fix.
Thanks for your comment, Erl! As I said to Zin, above, I do respectfully disagree with your opinion on climate change—the scientific evidence is overwhelming that everything (our air, seas, land) is warming to an incredibly dangerous degree...and it is specifically and directly caused by human pollution. I get the deficit idea, but don't understand the relationship between refinancing problems and increasing medicaid/mediare denials... ?
Thanks for your comment Joan. The graph I provide the address for below shows the change in the temperature of the surface of the oceans of the southern hemisphere in January when the sun is overhead the Tropic of Capricorn and solar radiation 6% stronger than in July when the Earth is furthest from the sun. https://psl.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/data/timeseries/timeseries.pl?ntype=1&var=SST&level=2000&lat1=0&lat2=-90&lon1=0&lon2=360&iseas=1&mon1=0&mon2=0&iarea=1&typeout=2&Submit=Create+Timeseries
Surface temperature has increased in winter in both hemispheres. That's entirely beneficial because temperatures are suboptimal and plants grow little of very slowly in June-July.
In the northern hemisphere temperatures are conditioned by the extent of cloud cover. As the continents heat up, so does the air so that relative humidity fall and with it cloud cover. Then more radiation reaches the surface. Warming is strongest in urban areas where there is less or no vegetation to cool the air via leaf transpiration. The loss of cloud causes the average temperature of the Earth to reach a maximum in July, when solar radiation is weakest. This demonstrates the importance of cloud cover. It's not possible to measure changes in cloud cover yet. So, this factor can not be ruled out. Those who claim that humanity is responsible for the slight warming that has occurred are not following the principles of logical argument, ie science.