Tim Burgess
@timburg382.bsky.social
History, Movies, Travel, and those darned inconvenient facts
My local congresscritter, Rep. Juan Ciscomanni (AZ-6) held a Town Hall last night. Great, you think, right? Well, except that it was a Zoom Call, and he sent the announcement out AFTER it was over.
So much for allowing us to seek redress of our grievances.
So much for allowing us to seek redress of our grievances.
April 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
My local congresscritter, Rep. Juan Ciscomanni (AZ-6) held a Town Hall last night. Great, you think, right? Well, except that it was a Zoom Call, and he sent the announcement out AFTER it was over.
So much for allowing us to seek redress of our grievances.
So much for allowing us to seek redress of our grievances.
Social Security is broken. Just tried logging into the website and cannot get through. I tried all three verification methods, still nothing. I was just checking, so no harm to me, yet.
Hoo Boy, if they are trying to anger voters, they are doing a great job.
Hoo Boy, if they are trying to anger voters, they are doing a great job.
March 26, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Social Security is broken. Just tried logging into the website and cannot get through. I tried all three verification methods, still nothing. I was just checking, so no harm to me, yet.
Hoo Boy, if they are trying to anger voters, they are doing a great job.
Hoo Boy, if they are trying to anger voters, they are doing a great job.
FwHB - Part I
Thankfully I have good insurance, so I’m not on the hook. My interest in all of this is mostly curiosity. I will follow up with a Part II to tell the tale of what is actually paid and by whom.
After this I am seeing all the Drs I need to as insurance will pay for all of it.
5/5
Thankfully I have good insurance, so I’m not on the hook. My interest in all of this is mostly curiosity. I will follow up with a Part II to tell the tale of what is actually paid and by whom.
After this I am seeing all the Drs I need to as insurance will pay for all of it.
5/5
March 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
FwHB - Part I
Thankfully I have good insurance, so I’m not on the hook. My interest in all of this is mostly curiosity. I will follow up with a Part II to tell the tale of what is actually paid and by whom.
After this I am seeing all the Drs I need to as insurance will pay for all of it.
5/5
Thankfully I have good insurance, so I’m not on the hook. My interest in all of this is mostly curiosity. I will follow up with a Part II to tell the tale of what is actually paid and by whom.
After this I am seeing all the Drs I need to as insurance will pay for all of it.
5/5
FwHB - Part I
The last time I saw a bill that high was from my car accident in 2007. Then the ICU charged $100,000 a week, not per day. I do not remember the exact amount that my insurance paid of that, maybe something like $20,000 per week.
4/5
The last time I saw a bill that high was from my car accident in 2007. Then the ICU charged $100,000 a week, not per day. I do not remember the exact amount that my insurance paid of that, maybe something like $20,000 per week.
4/5
March 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
FwHB - Part I
The last time I saw a bill that high was from my car accident in 2007. Then the ICU charged $100,000 a week, not per day. I do not remember the exact amount that my insurance paid of that, maybe something like $20,000 per week.
4/5
The last time I saw a bill that high was from my car accident in 2007. Then the ICU charged $100,000 a week, not per day. I do not remember the exact amount that my insurance paid of that, maybe something like $20,000 per week.
4/5
FwHB - Part I
The fun part is that I see the hospital’s bill, the one that I had already paid $3,000 for. It's for the surgery and 3 days in the ICU. It is $335k. Yup, over $100k a day. That is the “retail” amount, my insurance will discount that and then pay most if not all of the balance.
3/*
The fun part is that I see the hospital’s bill, the one that I had already paid $3,000 for. It's for the surgery and 3 days in the ICU. It is $335k. Yup, over $100k a day. That is the “retail” amount, my insurance will discount that and then pay most if not all of the balance.
3/*
March 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
FwHB - Part I
The fun part is that I see the hospital’s bill, the one that I had already paid $3,000 for. It's for the surgery and 3 days in the ICU. It is $335k. Yup, over $100k a day. That is the “retail” amount, my insurance will discount that and then pay most if not all of the balance.
3/*
The fun part is that I see the hospital’s bill, the one that I had already paid $3,000 for. It's for the surgery and 3 days in the ICU. It is $335k. Yup, over $100k a day. That is the “retail” amount, my insurance will discount that and then pay most if not all of the balance.
3/*
FwHB - Part I
The bills are rolling in. I got a bill from the surgeon, net for me about $2000. I can pay that & get $$$ back from the hospital. I’m not wild about it, but can afford that. So, I checked what was billed to my insurance, and I see a few small bills totalling $1000 or so.
2/*
The bills are rolling in. I got a bill from the surgeon, net for me about $2000. I can pay that & get $$$ back from the hospital. I’m not wild about it, but can afford that. So, I checked what was billed to my insurance, and I see a few small bills totalling $1000 or so.
2/*
March 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
FwHB - Part I
The bills are rolling in. I got a bill from the surgeon, net for me about $2000. I can pay that & get $$$ back from the hospital. I’m not wild about it, but can afford that. So, I checked what was billed to my insurance, and I see a few small bills totalling $1000 or so.
2/*
The bills are rolling in. I got a bill from the surgeon, net for me about $2000. I can pay that & get $$$ back from the hospital. I’m not wild about it, but can afford that. So, I checked what was billed to my insurance, and I see a few small bills totalling $1000 or so.
2/*
Fun with Hospital Bills - Part I
I had surgery early in March. I'm better now and am looking out for the bills as they roll in. Up front the hospital nudged me to pay 3 grand, and knowing that I have a high deductible, I went ahead and paid them. That is almost all of my $3600 deductible.
1/*
I had surgery early in March. I'm better now and am looking out for the bills as they roll in. Up front the hospital nudged me to pay 3 grand, and knowing that I have a high deductible, I went ahead and paid them. That is almost all of my $3600 deductible.
1/*
March 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Fun with Hospital Bills - Part I
I had surgery early in March. I'm better now and am looking out for the bills as they roll in. Up front the hospital nudged me to pay 3 grand, and knowing that I have a high deductible, I went ahead and paid them. That is almost all of my $3600 deductible.
1/*
I had surgery early in March. I'm better now and am looking out for the bills as they roll in. Up front the hospital nudged me to pay 3 grand, and knowing that I have a high deductible, I went ahead and paid them. That is almost all of my $3600 deductible.
1/*
2/2
A popular meme making the rounds says that tanking the economy makes it possible for Trump and cronies to buy businesses cheaply.
Another factor to consider is that when the economy does poorly, interest rates drop. This benefits those cronies, AND the federal debt payment costs drop too.
A popular meme making the rounds says that tanking the economy makes it possible for Trump and cronies to buy businesses cheaply.
Another factor to consider is that when the economy does poorly, interest rates drop. This benefits those cronies, AND the federal debt payment costs drop too.
March 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM
2/2
A popular meme making the rounds says that tanking the economy makes it possible for Trump and cronies to buy businesses cheaply.
Another factor to consider is that when the economy does poorly, interest rates drop. This benefits those cronies, AND the federal debt payment costs drop too.
A popular meme making the rounds says that tanking the economy makes it possible for Trump and cronies to buy businesses cheaply.
Another factor to consider is that when the economy does poorly, interest rates drop. This benefits those cronies, AND the federal debt payment costs drop too.
So, it seems that the new administration is trying to intentionally swerve the economy into a recession. I have looked at their actions and cannot really come up with a different reason for what they are doing.
1/2
1/2
March 11, 2025 at 9:13 PM
So, it seems that the new administration is trying to intentionally swerve the economy into a recession. I have looked at their actions and cannot really come up with a different reason for what they are doing.
1/2
1/2
#1 cont. And before you think that this cannot work due to the complexity of the tax laws, think again. Just do a process flow analysis and look for bottlenecks. Look for the factors that cause a person to have to decline the estimate and file their own more detailed return. Then fix those. /3
January 28, 2025 at 5:30 AM
#1 cont. And before you think that this cannot work due to the complexity of the tax laws, think again. Just do a process flow analysis and look for bottlenecks. Look for the factors that cause a person to have to decline the estimate and file their own more detailed return. Then fix those. /3
#1 cont. With the higher standard deduction, they know the number of dependents (which you could be allowed to update), and a few other data points and it's all done.
Self-employed and those with rentals would still have to file, but why not actually put the service into "government service"? /2
Self-employed and those with rentals would still have to file, but why not actually put the service into "government service"? /2
January 28, 2025 at 5:22 AM
#1 cont. With the higher standard deduction, they know the number of dependents (which you could be allowed to update), and a few other data points and it's all done.
Self-employed and those with rentals would still have to file, but why not actually put the service into "government service"? /2
Self-employed and those with rentals would still have to file, but why not actually put the service into "government service"? /2
Serious suggestion #1. Why doesn't the IRS send us an estimated tax bill? For all of the people who get a paystub and W-2, why can't the govt just send them an estimated tax statement? The IRS gets your W-2 and 1099s, 1098s for interest and other taxable income. They have the data. /1
January 28, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Serious suggestion #1. Why doesn't the IRS send us an estimated tax bill? For all of the people who get a paystub and W-2, why can't the govt just send them an estimated tax statement? The IRS gets your W-2 and 1099s, 1098s for interest and other taxable income. They have the data. /1
/5 final one: One big catch to throwing out so many things at one time is that they have to defend all of them at once, and try to implement them all. That will take away from their efforts to accomplish much of that agenda. Remember Obama, he got ONE big policy into force in his first two yrs.
January 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
/5 final one: One big catch to throwing out so many things at one time is that they have to defend all of them at once, and try to implement them all. That will take away from their efforts to accomplish much of that agenda. Remember Obama, he got ONE big policy into force in his first two yrs.
/4 A major reason for this flurry of effort is that this President is term limited and will soon be a Lame Duck, facing opposition within their party as well as from the other party. 2026 we will see elections for Congress, and a couple dozen potential presidential candidates running to replace him.
January 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
/4 A major reason for this flurry of effort is that this President is term limited and will soon be a Lame Duck, facing opposition within their party as well as from the other party. 2026 we will see elections for Congress, and a couple dozen potential presidential candidates running to replace him.
/3 The further reality is that so many things they are trying to do requires action by Congress. And Republicans have narrow margins in both houses, making it harder to get thing done without running afoul of extremists in their own caucus. And without those extremists they need votes from Dems.
January 24, 2025 at 6:29 PM
/3 The further reality is that so many things they are trying to do requires action by Congress. And Republicans have narrow margins in both houses, making it harder to get thing done without running afoul of extremists in their own caucus. And without those extremists they need votes from Dems.
/2 The catch at trying to do everything all at once is that of course they make mistakes. One Executive Order has already been suspended, pending further appellate review. Another, apparently aimed at Transgender persons missed the mark since it explicitly talks about a person's "Sex", not Gender.
January 24, 2025 at 6:27 PM
/2 The catch at trying to do everything all at once is that of course they make mistakes. One Executive Order has already been suspended, pending further appellate review. Another, apparently aimed at Transgender persons missed the mark since it explicitly talks about a person's "Sex", not Gender.
1/ Just an observation on the flurry of things being done or attempted by the new administration. They are literally throwing things against the wall in an effort to see what sticks. But that is also intentionally done so that we, those who follow the laws, can only address or resist some of them.
January 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM
1/ Just an observation on the flurry of things being done or attempted by the new administration. They are literally throwing things against the wall in an effort to see what sticks. But that is also intentionally done so that we, those who follow the laws, can only address or resist some of them.
Having fun navigating health care. Mom is getting better, but now they say her cough is due to bronchitis. So far it's been Pneumonia (December), RSV (January 4th-10th), and now the big B.
January 23, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Having fun navigating health care. Mom is getting better, but now they say her cough is due to bronchitis. So far it's been Pneumonia (December), RSV (January 4th-10th), and now the big B.
Reposted by Tim Burgess
This is the face of courage and compassion. Thank you Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for speaking truth to power on behalf of the marginalized.
January 22, 2025 at 3:11 PM
This is the face of courage and compassion. Thank you Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for speaking truth to power on behalf of the marginalized.
OK. So it is a new era, and like it or not, Trump is the President again. There is a lot of anger and fear floating around, but we cannot escape the reality of thsoe facts.
My focus for now will be on protecting those who are vulnerable and reminding us all of what we voted for.
My focus for now will be on protecting those who are vulnerable and reminding us all of what we voted for.
January 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
OK. So it is a new era, and like it or not, Trump is the President again. There is a lot of anger and fear floating around, but we cannot escape the reality of thsoe facts.
My focus for now will be on protecting those who are vulnerable and reminding us all of what we voted for.
My focus for now will be on protecting those who are vulnerable and reminding us all of what we voted for.
Just a reminder, the President of the United States is Joseph R. Biden, Jr. His term does not end until January 20th.
January 19, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Just a reminder, the President of the United States is Joseph R. Biden, Jr. His term does not end until January 20th.
I never really did Twitter (nor "X"), so this is interesting. So far it is a fun ride.
January 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I never really did Twitter (nor "X"), so this is interesting. So far it is a fun ride.
/4 Just the facts, Ma'am
In a typical year prior to 2019, between 12,000 and 51,000 Americans died annually from the Flu or pneumonia.
From 2020 through mid-2024, over 2,000,000 Americans have died from COVID, the Flu, or Pneumonia. Do the math, that's an average of 400,000 a year (in five years).
In a typical year prior to 2019, between 12,000 and 51,000 Americans died annually from the Flu or pneumonia.
From 2020 through mid-2024, over 2,000,000 Americans have died from COVID, the Flu, or Pneumonia. Do the math, that's an average of 400,000 a year (in five years).
January 15, 2025 at 9:09 PM
/4 Just the facts, Ma'am
In a typical year prior to 2019, between 12,000 and 51,000 Americans died annually from the Flu or pneumonia.
From 2020 through mid-2024, over 2,000,000 Americans have died from COVID, the Flu, or Pneumonia. Do the math, that's an average of 400,000 a year (in five years).
In a typical year prior to 2019, between 12,000 and 51,000 Americans died annually from the Flu or pneumonia.
From 2020 through mid-2024, over 2,000,000 Americans have died from COVID, the Flu, or Pneumonia. Do the math, that's an average of 400,000 a year (in five years).
3/ tl:dr
If you are sick, take precautions. If you can, stay home and avoid being around others. Masking up if you have to go out, and try to stay away from people and interact as little as possible. Wash your hands often, and avoid direct contact with others.
Did we learn nothing from COVID?
If you are sick, take precautions. If you can, stay home and avoid being around others. Masking up if you have to go out, and try to stay away from people and interact as little as possible. Wash your hands often, and avoid direct contact with others.
Did we learn nothing from COVID?
January 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
3/ tl:dr
If you are sick, take precautions. If you can, stay home and avoid being around others. Masking up if you have to go out, and try to stay away from people and interact as little as possible. Wash your hands often, and avoid direct contact with others.
Did we learn nothing from COVID?
If you are sick, take precautions. If you can, stay home and avoid being around others. Masking up if you have to go out, and try to stay away from people and interact as little as possible. Wash your hands often, and avoid direct contact with others.
Did we learn nothing from COVID?
2/ Mom lives in an Assisted Living place, so she caught these bugs, pneumonia and then RSV, because someone who was sick didn't take precautions. Like staying home if at all possible, or masking up if you have to go out.
Did they learn nothing from COVID?
Did they learn nothing from COVID?
January 15, 2025 at 9:02 PM
2/ Mom lives in an Assisted Living place, so she caught these bugs, pneumonia and then RSV, because someone who was sick didn't take precautions. Like staying home if at all possible, or masking up if you have to go out.
Did they learn nothing from COVID?
Did they learn nothing from COVID?