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Things I still can't do in November 2014

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Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#81

Post by anw »

crdoconnor wrote: post #35

"Get a discount from the federal government for being healthy. Fat people should pay more taxes because they cost society more. This means some approved weigh in and testing centers" This argument seems to be pretty common among the glitterati from Wall Street. I wonder why they don't see the incredible irony.

I agree. This is also a bit of a slippery slope.

My 2 previous jobs offered health coverage that included gym membership discounts.

This is a proper motivator [for me]. If I want to maintain and improve my health, I'm offered the benefit of doing so with perks.

But what advantage does it give to those who have something such as a heart condition that won't allow them to participate in the same exercises?

In this case, diet could be the helping factor. Then do these people get a refund on part of their grocery bill?

The problem is trying to create cookie cutter solutions to people that are diverse and have complex issues.

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#82

Post by DanBC »

yummyfajitas wrote: post #64
estebank wrote: post #31

> 30. Get a discount from the federal government for being healthy. Fat people should pay more taxes because they cost society more. This means some approved weigh in and testing centers Am I the only one finding this insulting, disgusting and backwards? People can be overweight for a multitude of reasons, some of which are: * Genetics * Medication * Health conditions * Smoking * Enviromental reasons * Lack of sleep…

Most fat people don't have reasons other than stuffing their faces for being fat. As evidence for this, consider the fact that obesity is skyrocketing while most of the things on your list are not changing.

I mostly agree with your point[1] but you should be aware that seroquel and abilify (the 5th and 6th most prescribed medications in the US) both lost increased appetite and weight gain as side effects.

The US also has a lot of "off label" prescribing of other anti psychotic meds. This includes risperidone - which again promotes weight gain. The rate of prescribing mental health meds has increased dramatically since the 1990s.

The mechanism of weight gain for some mental health meds is not just "increased appetite, eats more" either. Part of it is the sedating effect so people need less calories, and there might be some changes to gut flora.

Gut flora to lose weight: http://bbc.co.uk/news/health-22458428

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-gut-bacteria-h...

http://rt.com/usa/children-antipsychotic-taking-us-187/

[1] are you aware how you come across and just don't care?

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#83

Post by ElectricMonk79 »

gordaco wrote: post #59
ElectricMonk79 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/healthcare/fatties-and-smokers... > Ultimately, the thin and healthy group cost the most, about $417,000, from age 20 on. The cost of care for obese people was $371,000, and for smokers, about $326,000. And as Kip Viscusi has pointed out, when you add in the costs of the state pensions that those who die young don’t get, smoking and gorging save the government vast sums of money.

Thanks. Quite a surprising finding. That article links to another one from the NY times [1], with this interesting line: The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up the most expensive health costs. But because both the smokers and the obese people died sooner than the healthy group, it cost less to treat them in the long run. [1]: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/05iht-obese.1.97488..…

Yes! :)

I love to tease the public health nazis with... "On average, fat people are healthier".

Funny because it's true.

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#84

Post by estebank »

yummyfajitas wrote: post #75
brotchie wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree, but I feel you're implying that obese individuals have complete "self-aware" autonomy over their decision making. I can pick an obese individual out of a crowd and go "That guy is fat because he eats too much. Dude... have some self control, stop eating so much, buy healthy food, do some exercise, learn to cook for yourself." Focusing on an individual, all these things may be true, and one may seek…

Society is an abstraction for the aggregated product of individual actions. It's an abstraction layer above the level of individual choice, much as thermodynamics is an abstraction layer above mechanics. Now lets suppose we do want to work on the societal abstraction level. The problem is that the proportion of people making a certain individual choice has gone up. One solution is a pigouvian tax to disincentivize th…

1) people want line item veto from taxes? Where can individuals opt out of paying for wars they don't agree with?

2) taxing obese people would (beyond all the moral and ethical questions that arise) disproportionately affect people that already screwed by the status quo, people of lower income that cannot afford to eat better.

Obesity is a symptom, in the same way that homelessness is a symptom of a failed policy towards mental disorders. Just as some people treat depression and PTSD though alcoholism, some people consume unhealthy food that is cheap and keeps them going. The same reason that demographic also disproportionately smokes, it's a cheap chemical hit that keeps them awake while working two jobs.

This reeks of "Fuck you, I've got mine".

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#85

Post by Kiro »

nikcub wrote: post #63

> 26. Be able to sell my advice online. It's worth something and I should have some way to monetize it. It is called Google Helpouts[0], and it isn't going very well. Reason why - almost everybody overvalues what their advice is actually worth. People who can provide value usually already are through their usual economic activity - be it a job or entrepreneurialism (ie. If your advice was worth something, you'd alrea…

There's a difference between personal tutoring and general advice. I believe he meant the latter. Like for example paying to see this kind of list.

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#86

Post by matthewmacleod »

dkyc wrote: post #73
gordaco wrote: post #28

Honestly, I find some of these points quite disturbing. And a lot of them are not a matter of technology. 13. Keep track of where everybody in my team is physically right now. I don't want to work with you, ever. 40 hours a week are for the team, sure, but during the remaining 128 you don't have any business in my life. What you propose is creepy. 25. Be able to take a course online and get graded -- and get a diplom…

"Be able to get a $100 MRI. It can be done for this price." [...] Also you may get it for free when you actually need it, if you live in a place with a sane health system (i.e., not the USA)." As someone who lives in Germany where people pay almost 20% of their salary for non-opt-out health insurance, I'm astonished by people that think a state-forced health insurance gets you free MRIs .

In the context of healthcare, "free" means "free at the point of use." This is perfectly sensible, because everybody is aware there is no such thing as healthcare which is literally absent of any cost. Given that, it seems like making this tedious statement every time someone references free healthcare is getting old.

I'd also point out that the insurance rate is actually 15.5%, that people with low incomes are exempt, that the total payment is capped, and that employers contribute around half of this payment.

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#87

Post by Retric »

dkyc wrote: post #73
gordaco wrote: post #28

Honestly, I find some of these points quite disturbing. And a lot of them are not a matter of technology. 13. Keep track of where everybody in my team is physically right now. I don't want to work with you, ever. 40 hours a week are for the team, sure, but during the remaining 128 you don't have any business in my life. What you propose is creepy. 25. Be able to take a course online and get graded -- and get a diplom…

"Be able to get a $100 MRI. It can be done for this price." [...] Also you may get it for free when you actually need it, if you live in a place with a sane health system (i.e., not the USA)." As someone who lives in Germany where people pay almost 20% of their salary for non-opt-out health insurance, I'm astonished by people that think a state-forced health insurance gets you free MRIs .

Healthcare is under 12% GDP in Germany so a 20% tax on everyone is clearly not happening.

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#88

Post by icebraining »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #41
estebank wrote: post #31

> 30. Get a discount from the federal government for being healthy. Fat people should pay more taxes because they cost society more. This means some approved weigh in and testing centers Am I the only one finding this insulting, disgusting and backwards? People can be overweight for a multitude of reasons, some of which are: * Genetics * Medication * Health conditions * Smoking * Enviromental reasons * Lack of sleep…

I can see something like this making a little sense in a country with 100% free health cared paid by taxes. If you have a disease you've caused yourself (by smoking, taking drugs, eating badly) why should everyone else have to help you through their taxes? That's not my opinion though, I don't think that's how it should work but I guess that's how he's looking at it.

Well, smokers already pay more (e.g, 80% of the price of a pack in France is taxes, and many other countries have similar rates). Sugar taxes are also appearing in some countries.

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#89

Post by vixen99 »

antr wrote: post #24
irremediable wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A good number are Silicon Valley (or US) problems, the $100 MRI is pretty the cost of an MRI in Europe, but then, it's free for the patient. Same goes for the ER. FWIW, while the patient-facing cost is about that, I think the actual cost (after accounting for taxes, charitable donations, the radiographer's time, etc) is quite a bit higher.

In the EU, the supply of medical services generally qualifies for exemption from VAT, among other taxes. Same applies with charitable donations... that is pretty much a US thing too. The $100 number is an all-in cost. I know this as I come from a family of doctors, unfortunately I'm not one.

Living in Brasov, Romania: price of MRI for a knee is around 400 Lei or around $110. Proportionate prices for others. Not sure but I think these might be the lowest prices in Europe. If you're desperate and your British NHS doctor doesn't agree then this is an answer though I suspect the doctor will then ignore the scan because it was not produced by the NHS (open to correction).

Re: Things I still can't do in November 2014

#90

Post by madeofpalk »

netcan wrote: post #78
nikcub wrote: post #63

> 26. Be able to sell my advice online. It's worth something and I should have some way to monetize it. It is called Google Helpouts[0], and it isn't going very well. Reason why - almost everybody overvalues what their advice is actually worth. People who can provide value usually already are through their usual economic activity - be it a job or entrepreneurialism (ie. If your advice was worth something, you'd alrea…

There have been a bunch of attempts. I think that one might eventually succeed. The problem is the difficulty in actually figuring out who's advice is worth what & where. But, in many cases 30 minutes with the right person could be incredibly valuable. Technical/scientific/engineering expertise is one are, industry knowledge is another one. I think the second might be the most important. Say you have some sort of awe…

The problem is the same as why Freelancer, ODesk and the rest suck so much: majority of the good designers already have full-time jobs.

People who have valuable advice worth paying for are usually already being paid by their employer.

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