Joplin,NY Times Op-ED

Of course when I wrote of Topeka and tornado damage, I meant to write of Joplin, Mo, but had a senior moment. That does not lessen my pain when I look at the photos of the town.

The New York Times had an op-ed today that showed how some expensive treatments whose effectiveness is not fully substantiated by medical evidence is costing medicare billions. It is time to revisit payments for many of these high-cost, frequently performed procedures. Are my fellow physicians merely lining their own pockets, or can they submit verifiable evidence that the procedures they perform are really necessary. Remember your oath- primum non nocere ( first do no harm.)

I am also following closely the proposed Vermont law which will provide health insurance for all. I will be interested to see how it will be funded. Once again will New England lead the country?

Topeka, Lizzie Smith

I guess the world did end, after all for some of the folks in Topeka. The devastation is beyond belief.
I can not imagine Hartford or St Francis Hospital reduced to rubble as was St. John's.

I am planning to self-publish my novel, "Best Served Cold." To do this I must upload the completed novel to amazon and also their affiliate, createspace.com. Stay tuned! I am hard at work on a sequel to BSC. It is as yet untitled.


Lizzie Smith is a young woman who is one of the central figures in my crime novel. She has been sexually and physically abused by her stepfather, and is key to the blackmail scheme that he conceives.

Earthquake in Japan

My heart goes out to the people of Japan. What awful tsunami photos!

Who is Richard Lamar St. Pierre? Wait for my book to find out.
"Best served Cold" published soon!

AT and T Voicemail

So last week we received a letter outlining AT and T's new voicemail system. My wife and I with 4 college degrees among us couldn't understand the letter! Also the guide to the system that was supposed to be enclosed in the envelope, wasn't! So, to solve the problem, we switched our service to Comcast. Just press *99- where's the easy button?

 My book is now completely edited, copied and typed. I have appointments with three literary agents in a few weeks. Ready to cast George Clooney and Laura Linney for the movie!

The Old Doctor Wonders: Gasoline prices

The Old Doctor Wonders: Gasoline prices

Gasoline prices

Now, come on! We get only 2% of oil from Libya. Egypt has NO oil. Why are gas prices so high? Big oil has us over an (oil) barrel once again.

I have mixed emotions over the situation in Wisconsin. The left part of me is sympathetic to the wage earner, but the right part of me thinks unions ARE too strong. The easy acquiescence to union demands in the past is coming home to bite us. First bitten, autos, where sweetheart contracts nearly brought the US auto industry to its knees, Next bitten, the teachers union, making it nearly impossible to fire a teacher for incompetancy.  Next up government workers, some of whom in this state, earn more than the governor!

Retirement, My novel

I am truly enjoying retirement. If I knew it was so wonderful, I'd have done it sooner, and I think I will try it for a while longer.

I have completed my crime novel, "Best Served Cold." The manuscript is being edited and will soon be submitted to a literary agent to be published.

My editor likes the book. She says it is a real page turner and has it all-murder,sex,blackmail and even redemption!

In subsequent posts, I will reveal snippets of the plot and text. Stay tuned!