Although my eyes are still a little dilated, I’m glad to have my 2021 vision appointment out of the way. Thankfully my prescription didn’t change, although the presbyopia is definitely not on the improve (suspect everyone will have aging eyes someday)? I’ve pondered the entire vision insurance gimmick (my opinion) before going back and forth wondering if we would be better just paying out of pocket for our vision and for that matter our dental care?
In the past, I noticed that I have been able to shop for vision items and arrive at a cheaper overall cost without insurance … that is even before adding up the relatively low monthly cost of group plan vision coverage with an employer. I suspect some vision providers know that they can upcharge for nearly everything plus collect the insurance reimbursement?
My advice after years of irritatingly being overcharged, is to skip the vision insurance … if you have to pay for it, and negotiate the eye exam and bare minimum of service with your local provider. Then use them if they are reasonable but be prepared to go elsewhere if you find out they are gouging on fitting fees, selling glasses, contacts, etc. From my experience, you will nearly always come out ahead shopping around and using your cash. There will always be headaches and “red tape” when in come to getting reimbursement … not to mention the hassles of filling out forms and sending in the receipts when you play the out-of-network game. Insurance or no-insurance, be sure to work in the manufacturer’s rebates and always pay with an FSA or my preference and HSA account.
Look out on the roads … and no I’m not talking about driving dogs. HA!
FSD Beta is an unfinished version of Tesla’s premium driver-assistance software, FSD, which the company sells in the U.S. for $10,000 upfront, or $199 a month.
Tesla has rolled out a software update for their controversial Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD beta) program which offers the Full Self-Driving mode to testers. There are a few caveats although suspect some drivers will figure out how to still ignore the road … and plenty of non-Tesla driving sharing the road who have safety concerns.
Electric vehicle maker Tesla rolled out a long-awaited software update Friday night that allows customers to request access to its controversial Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software.
The move delighted fans of CEO Elon Musk and Tesla, but it risks drawing the ire of federal vehicle safety authorities who are already investigating the automaker for possible safety defects in its driver-assistance systems.
A couple of weeks ago, Taylor introduced me to a Dan Carlin “Hardcore History” podcasts. He thought I might enjoy them, since both of us particularly appreciate learning more about military history. The series is called “Supernova in the East” detailing the Japanese Empire from pre-World War Japan through WW 2 in six long lectures (6 have been recorded so far) covering the war in the Pacific in much detail. Currently I’m on Carlin’s number 64, or III in the series, and up to the point early in 1942 when General MacArthur is pushed back onto the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. It is long winded, but very informative … and complements the Ian W. Toll volumes I’ve read on the subject.
The segment being discussed is shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack and the United States entering World War 2. It was also a reminder to me that America left our troops, citizens and allies alone to fend for themselves … too reminiscent of how we recently left Afghanistan. The difference is that in 1941 we lost much of our Pacific Fleet and were prioritizing for war in Europe … unlike just leaving folks behind for our selfish political reason. It was irritating in both cases, but at least in 1942 President Roosevelt didn’t really have the capability to do much in the Pacific … something that can’t be said for President Biden in August 2021.
I’m not exactly sure what electrical part has failed, but the electrical circuit or electronic board that controls the thaw/motor swipe to remove the frozen cubes from the small 8-cube ice tray is not working. I spent way too much time diagnosing from the aspect of “resetting” and forced defrost to realize that it is something in the icemaker circuit itself. I manually used a heat gun to see if I could get the motor to turn the fingers (and it sort of does) but sense that the problem is in getting the heat bars to turn on that warms up the tray for a few minutes. I’ve concluded that it should heat the tray just enough so the cubes can be flipped out of the small tray and start the circuit all over again.
Saved an interesting graphic posted on social media this past week. It is interesting to look at and contemplate how we use our smartphones and tablets … it also works as a Tech Friday filler.
This map was posted on Brilliant Maps back in 2015, but graphically seeing the 4037 cities around the world with over 100,000 people in them was interesting for those of us who enjoy studying maps.
As we shift from summer to autumn, those of us living north of the Mason-Dixon line have to prepare and wonder just what is in store when it comes to winter weather?
Although I’m not a big follower of the Farmer’s Almanac, I recognized that they have an 80% record over 230 years in predicting weather forecasts (so they say).
“This coming winter could well be one of the longest and coldest that we’ve seen in years..” – Janice Stillman, editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac (link)
When I was a kid, I remember studying the illuminated glass globe in my bedroom and my grandparents pre-WW II atlas and then stumbling across the science theory showing the Alfred Wegener proposed supercontinent called Pangaea.
The other day I saved the image overlay of today’s international borders on top of the globe image (click image for larger) and thought it was interesting enough to include on my blog … but then again, I love maps and geography (check out this interactive version).
I’ve pondered the entire vision insurance gimmick (my opinion) before going back and forth wondering if we would be better just paying out of pocket for our vision and for that matter our dental care? 
