Finally: Winter 2013

     Forecasters have predicted-SNOW!   Get the shovels, blowers, heaters, blocker heaters, sand, gravel, de- icer, and a full gas tank.  This should put enough snow on the slopes for all winter sports activities.   This storm even has a name, according to the Weather Channel_ -Dion.  Another alphabetical naming.
     The mayor went to a seasonal party last night and talked and ate and danced the night away.  Always fun to meet up with old friends and families, share stories, memories, lies, and other humorous anecdotes.  By chance, a name came up that was connected with our own Homewood Resort.  One of the members of the development group of the resort is the son of an old friend from San Francisco.  Apparently, this businessman has an interest in several developments that have been very successful.  The word is that Homewood Resort is destined to be a good project, especially for the investment group.   Good News!
 
Obama Care Update

     The website for the ACA seems to be improving.   Those looking to pick a plan from an exchange are being successful in their efforts.  Only time will tell if the projected goals are realized.  Pres Obama has a lot on his plate with Iran Nuclear power agreements and China's  No Fly Zone extended into the South China Sea.   Today was the deadline for new Kaiser Permanente members to pick a doctor,FYI.
      This week, the NYT published an article about the runaway costs of hospitaliztion, focusing on Cal.Pacific Med Center in San Francisco.  This hospital is operated by Sutter Health as a non profit.  The writer identified two recent patients who were treated at the facility and listed the bills for those services.   Thousands of dollars were billed for a few minutes of work that included such items as 6 stitches, aspirin tablets, and gauze bandages.  None of the charges had any basis in cost of the items, some billed at 100 times cost!   The crux of the article was making the case for the culprit in the extraordinary rise in medical cost and of insurance: to maintain the profits of these monstrous health corporations.   Stay tuned.