Question:

Posted on Sat, Mar. 20, 2004     Medicare drug-benefit law backfires on Republicans By William Douglas Knight Ridder WASHINGTON — Enactment of a sweeping Medicare reform law last year was supposed to be the crowning achievement of President Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” as he readied himself for re-election. By providing a federally subsidized prescription-drug benefit for senior citizens, albeit a limited one, administration officials felt they usurped a major issue from the Democrats and cut into Democratic support among seniors age 65 and over — an especially important voting bloc in key battleground states such as Florida. But less than four months after he signed it into law Dec. 8, Bush’s Medicare-reform dream has turned into a nightmare and a potential drag on his bid for re-election.

Question:

BVR – Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation KG

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week was not auspicious.  I got a letter from SS turning down my first appeal.  I’m waiting to hear back from the lawyer who handled the appeal They say inspite of panic attacks and an inability to return to my former work I can do simple repetitive work and follow instructions.  If I hate leaving the house, don’t do stress well and throw up when I get home, how am I suppose to work?  I can go out with someone else and have no problems, but I hate going out alone. BVR said I hadn’t been on contact with them and wanted to close my case. I was told to wait for them to contact me.  Right now, I’m appealing keeping my case open. KG Great, this is what I have to look forward to? I’m sorry to hear that your getting the run-a-round on this. My pdoc suggested to me last week that I get a lawyer too. So now that I’ve moved it’s all about concentrating on getting this SSDI crap done…. BTW – what is BVR? Hilaire This is not what you have to look forward too.  With few exceptions, most everybody gets turned down the first time for SSDI.  It may not be easy either. I was *told* to wait for BVR to call.  BVR expected me to call them.  So they decided to close my case. KG

Response:

Kathy.  I’ll give you some hints for working with bureaucracies. First, never expect them to call you.  If you don’t get results within a reasonable time frame (that depends upon the organization) give THEM a call. You need to make a total pest out of yourself to get anything done. Second, always write down the time, day, and person to whom you spoke when you make a phone call.  It’s amazing how quickly we can forget exactly when it was that we called regarding a problem. Third, if you want it done quickly, make a pest of yourself, ask the person for their name, ask to speak to supervisors if necessary. Fourth, make a pest of yourself.  Don’t expect any bureaucracy to ever call you back.  Especially if it involves you RECEIVING money.  (If you owe money they will be calling you every day including holidays.) FIFTH. Make a pest of yourself.  Document everything.  You have to follow up on things.  They are not concerned about your bills or problems. c I know I repeated myself a lot but having dealt with a lot of bureaucracies in my life I have learned to be perisitant.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week was not auspicious.  I got a letter from SS turning down my first appeal.  I’m waiting to hear back from the lawyer who handled the appeal They say inspite of panic attacks and an inability to return to my former work I can do simple repetitive work and follow instructions.  If I hate leaving the house, don’t do stress well and throw up when I get home, how am I suppose to work?  I can go out with someone else and have no problems, but I hate going out alone. BVR said I hadn’t been on contact with them and wanted to close my case. I was told to wait for them to contact me.  Right now, I’m appealing keeping my case open. KG Great, this is what I have to look forward to? I’m sorry to hear that your getting the run-a-round on this. My pdoc suggested to me last week that I get a lawyer too. So now that I’ve moved it’s all about concentrating on getting this SSDI crap done…. BTW – what is BVR? Hilaire This is not what you have to look forward too.  With few exceptions, most everybody gets turned down the first time for SSDI.  It may not be easy either. I was *told* to wait for BVR to call.  BVR expected me to call them.  So they decided to close my case. KG

Response:

Hi Kathy- Just wanted to say "good luck"!!  From what I know of you, your third apeak (hearing) should get you your SSDI.  Hang in there! Hugs, Nancy etched permanently into the ether: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah, you have a lot of shit going on.  BTDT.  Is your pdoc helping you to file?  Getting the proper diagnositic label from a pdoc is essential.  If you’ve had multiple hospitalizations for BP that usually qualifies you. Try another appeal.  Most say it gets approved on the third time if it’s going to happen. c I have a lawyer helping.  My pdoc did the paperwork but they say they never got his or mine.  I’m leaving to the lawyer to tell me what needs to go into the appeal.  I have a call in to her.  Her staff person said my file was on her desk. KG

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week was not auspicious.  I got a letter from SS turning down my first appeal.  I’m waiting to hear back from the lawyer who handled the appeal They say inspite of panic attacks and an inability to return to my former work I can do simple repetitive work and follow instructions.  If I hate leaving the house, don’t do stress well and throw up when I get home, how am I suppose to work?  I can go out with someone else and have no problems, but I hate going out alone. BVR said I hadn’t been on contact with them and wanted to close my case. I was told to wait for them to contact me.  Right now, I’m appealing keeping my case open. KG Great, this is what I have to look forward to? I’m sorry to hear that your getting the run-a-round on this. My pdoc suggested to me last week that I get a lawyer too. So now that I’ve moved it’s all about concentrating on getting this SSDI crap done…. BTW – what is BVR? Hilaire

This is not what you have to look forward too.  With few exceptions, most everybody gets turned down the first time for SSDI.  It may not be easy either. I was *told* to wait for BVR to call.  BVR expected me to call them.  So they decided to close my case. KG

Response:

Yeah, you have a lot of shit going on.  BTDT.  Is your pdoc helping you to file?  Getting the proper diagnositic label from a pdoc is essential.  If you’ve had multiple hospitalizations for BP that usually qualifies you. Try another appeal.  Most say it gets approved on the third time if it’s going to happen. c

I have a lawyer helping.  My pdoc did the paperwork but they say they never got his or mine.  I’m leaving to the lawyer to tell me what needs to go into the appeal.  I have a call in to her.  Her staff person said my file was on her desk. KG

Response:

Sounds like you are on the receiving end of the ol’ gover mint red-tape run around.  Hope it goes better soon. I have a degree in social welfare and learned a lot about these various systems.  The paper is mind boggling.  Nothing but nothing gets done unless the proper form is filed. c

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah, you have a lot of shit going on.  BTDT.  Is your pdoc helping you to file?  Getting the proper diagnositic label from a pdoc is essential. If you’ve had multiple hospitalizations for BP that usually qualifies you. Try another appeal.  Most say it gets approved on the third time if it’s going to happen. c I have a lawyer helping.  My pdoc did the paperwork but they say they never got his or mine.  I’m leaving to the lawyer to tell me what needs to go into the appeal.  I have a call in to her.  Her staff person said my file was on her desk. KG

Response:

Yeah, you have a lot of shit going on.  BTDT.  Is your pdoc helping you to file?  Getting the proper diagnositic label from a pdoc is essential.  If you’ve had multiple hospitalizations for BP that usually qualifies you.  Try another appeal.  Most say it gets approved on the third time if it’s going to happen. c

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have you ever been hospitalized for BP? If you diagnosis only involves panic attacks and stress problems that may be why you weren’t approved.  The key points they stress are: Can you do the work you did before? No. Will you be disabled for at least one year? For 9 yrs I’ve struggled to keep working.  I was fired from my last job 9 hrs per week for making to many errors due ot problems with concentration. That was last August.  I lost my only fulltime job in 9 yrs the previous Sept.  I had diarreah and was throwing up daily at that job due to stress. I’ve had "crashes resulting in not being able to work for 6 or more months at a time 88 I flared up my tendinitis and was in splints for 9 mos. 94 I had a fibro crash and was misdiagnosed with mono.  All I did was go to work come home and go to bed.  It was triggered by volunteering for a stress filled position that I worked 18 hrs a day for 3 days. 96 Prescription drug interaction gave me anemia.  It took 8 mos to recover. I lost my accounting practice.  I was awake about 3 hrs a day. 02 It’s a coin toss aobut what happened prescription drug interaction between a steroid and nuerotin or I suffered neurotin poisoning without any help from the steroids.  The result was going cold turkey off all my drugs. Hyperactivty that lasted for months, going manic in April, and dealing with drug prescription as drug prescription change or tweaking.  I have panic attacks.  I throw up when I come back from large events.  I still sit and scream at least once a day or may as I become hypomanic from the sheer frustration of it all. I have multiple chemical sensitivites and get sick from perfume, hair products, fumes from copy machines and laser printers, and cleaning products. I’m incontinenant and not proud of it and I have IBS.  Stress makes it worse.  I always keep a box of diapers and change of clothes in the trunk of my car.  I’ve seen the looks my friends make when they see that stuff, but *no one* has ever dared to ask. I’ve ended up in the emergency room about once a year or so due to a precription drug interaction.  Antidepressants don’t really work for me. Basically they "stop working" after a fewmonth  I’ve been through most of the classes of drugs.  Some I can’t take at all because of sever personality changes. Will work result in the worsening of the disability or death? Work will make my disabilites worse.  it won’t result in my death. They may also consider your ability to work consistently.  I got approved on the first try when I applied.  I was also really messed up at the time. In 30 yrs of working, I’ve never been able to hold a job more than 2 yrs. The only time I do well is when I’m self employed.  Right now I don’t have the attention span to put together a garage sale let alone a business. One more question.  Were you applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income).  The requirements are slightly different for the two of them AFAIK. SSDI.  I’m on my second appeal.

Response:

Have you ever been hospitalized for BP? If you diagnosis only involves panic attacks and stress problems that may be why you weren’t approved.  The key points they stress are: Can you do the work you did before?

No. Will you be disabled for at least one year?

For 9 yrs I’ve struggled to keep working.  I was fired from my last job 9 hrs per week for making to many errors due ot problems with concentration. That was last August.  I lost my only fulltime job in 9 yrs the previous Sept.  I had diarreah and was throwing up daily at that job due to stress. I’ve had "crashes resulting in not being able to work for 6 or more months at a time 88 I flared up my tendinitis and was in splints for 9 mos. 94 I had a fibro crash and was misdiagnosed with mono.  All I did was go to work come home and go to bed.  It was triggered by volunteering for a stress filled position that I worked 18 hrs a day for 3 days. 96 Prescription drug interaction gave me anemia.  It took 8 mos to recover. I lost my accounting practice.  I was awake about 3 hrs a day. 02 It’s a coin toss aobut what happened prescription drug interaction between a steroid and nuerotin or I suffered neurotin poisoning without any help from the steroids.  The result was going cold turkey off all my drugs. Hyperactivty that lasted for months, going manic in April, and dealing with drug prescription as drug prescription change or tweaking.  I have panic attacks.  I throw up when I come back from large events.  I still sit and scream at least once a day or may as I become hypomanic from the sheer frustration of it all. I have multiple chemical sensitivites and get sick from perfume, hair products, fumes from copy machines and laser printers, and cleaning products. I’m incontinenant and not proud of it and I have IBS.  Stress makes it worse.  I always keep a box of diapers and change of clothes in the trunk of my car.  I’ve seen the looks my friends make when they see that stuff, but *no one* has ever dared to ask. I’ve ended up in the emergency room about once a year or so due to a precription drug interaction.  Antidepressants don’t really work for me. Basically they "stop working" after a fewmonth  I’ve been through most of the classes of drugs.  Some I can’t take at all because of sever personality changes. Will work result in the worsening of the disability or death?

Work will make my disabilites worse.  it won’t result in my death. They may also consider your ability to work consistently.  I got approved on the first try when I applied.  I was also really messed up at the time.

In 30 yrs of working, I’ve never been able to hold a job more than 2 yrs. The only time I do well is when I’m self employed.  Right now I don’t have the attention span to put together a garage sale let alone a business. One more question.  Were you applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income).  The requirements are slightly different for the two of them AFAIK.

SSDI.  I’m on my second appeal.

Response:

Last week was not auspicious.  I got a letter from SS turning down my first appeal.  I’m waiting to hear back from the lawyer who handled the appeal They say inspite of panic attacks and an inability to return to my former work I can do simple repetitive work and follow instructions.  If I hate leaving the house, don’t do stress well and throw up when I get home, how am I suppose to work?  I can go out with someone else and have no problems, but I hate going out alone. BVR said I hadn’t been on contact with them and wanted to close my case.  I was told to wait for them to contact me.  Right now, I’m appealing keeping my case open. KG

Response:

Have you ever been hospitalized for BP? If you diagnosis only involves panic attacks and stress problems that may be why you weren’t approved.  The key points they stress are: Can you do the work you did before? Will you be disabled for at least one year? Will work result in the worsening of the disability or death? They may also consider your ability to work consistently.  I got approved on the first try when I applied.  I was also really messed up at the time. One more question.  Were you applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income).  The requirements are slightly different for the two of them AFAIK. c

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week was not auspicious.  I got a letter from SS turning down my first appeal.  I’m waiting to hear back from the lawyer who handled the appeal They say inspite of panic attacks and an inability to return to my former work I can do simple repetitive work and follow instructions.  If I hate leaving the house, don’t do stress well and throw up when I get home, how am I suppose to work?  I can go out with someone else and have no problems, but I hate going out alone. BVR said I hadn’t been on contact with them and wanted to close my case. I was told to wait for them to contact me.  Right now, I’m appealing keeping my case open. KG

Response:

Question:

I’m so sorry that things are going so badly for you right now.  :-( *hugs* Used2Be

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m back after a short break from posting here. I’ve tried to get my life on track (i’m lonely, have a low income job, was out of shape, in bad debt, no real family) and over the past few months lost about 10-15 lbs, dress better, got back to college after a four year absence (for accounting). I’ve been trying to get my finances in order but now it’s just getting the best of me. I make so little income that I don’t have much left over at the end of the month. I still owe $500 to credit cards, $200 in due bills, and a terrible $2200 to MBNA Bank at 26.99% interest. I was such a fool a few years ago and I let that company get the best of me over a stupid computer. It’s tough paying off things myself because I make only $7.50 an hour, plus I go to school full time now and I’ve been winging this alone (with some help from my mom who recently made strides to putting our family back together). But it’s so hard. I’ve cut so many bills/luxuries/etc and once I get my back debts paid my monthly bills will be $825 a month (rent, all bills, luxuries). I bring home around $1050 a month so things are still a little too tight. Unfortunately I work at a terrible job and they just took away our .50 more per hour incentive and now i’m stuck back at 7.50 an hour. I’m getting straight A’s in college but two weeks ago, on the way home from college I got into my first car accident and totalled my car (raining, tight turn, not used to driving back from college yet, skid into the other lane and got hit by a truck). My car was totaled and I had to pay $115 to the towing company and turn over my title (this was a 1987 piece of crap car) but I had to borrow money to pay the towing company. Every day you leave it there after a week they charge you $25 a day. Thankfully my mom is letting me use her car until I figure out what to do. I must say driving again was very scary for the first few days. That was my first accident in seven years of driving. My college changed me from in sponsor tuition to out of sponsor tuiton and I went from getting a $170 refund to owing $540. This was because when I moved 2 1/2 years ago (my first ever apartment) I never got a "moving permit" and my local taxes were messed up. So, for the past few weeks i’ve been trying to prove that I live in District but the Administration Office talks to me with such disrespect and talks down to me like i’m some child. All I wanted was information on how to fix the problem and they talk to me terribly. Fixing the problem involved paying MONEY, for the permit, paying the local taxes I owed plus late fees ($60 total), and now I have to wait for a copy of the tax bill and per capita receipt, whatever the heck that is. Today, things got better… I got a letter from the District Justice, the cop is giving me a ticket for the accident… "driving faster than I should have in dangerous weather." Fine was $25.00. After all other costs… $99.50. So there goes some more money I was going to use to try and get out of debt. So it’s not only good enough that I lost my car, lost $115 for the towing, but now pay another $100. Sure it was my fault but come on. Right after the accident happened, witnesses that live around the area said there is always an accident there when the weather is bad. They have no signs, it’s a terrible turn and to tell you the truth I was only going 35. My car just sucked and I still can’t believe it happened, as I said i’d never had an accident before, ever (i’m 25). So now i’m hating life completely again — things just keep putting me down, my life keeps getting (at least feeling) worse. I owe money for local taxes. I owe money for a moving permit. I owe money for per capita. My college refund (that I was counting on) will never come. I don’t have my own car. I live by myself. I make $7.50 an hour and hate my job. Everything is always my fault. No matter what i’m doing, trying my best to *do the right thing*, *meet new people*, *get back to college*, things always try and stop me. People always want more production from you… and want to pay you less money. You always owe someone money and they want it *now*. When they owe you money, you get it when they want to give it to you. Life is just not fair. And i’m not talking a little unfair, I’m saying that this just is not right. And to top it off I haven’t had a relationship in two years, have few friends, and people (women) just aren’t interested in me. Not good looking enough, smart enough, don’t have connections of friends, I have no money. Man. Sitting home on a Friday night alone is one thing, doing it when you have no money (but work all the time) is worse. Being in debt forever makes it *even worse*. I just hate everything right now. I’m going to sleep. Thanks for listening.

Response:

Hi, I’m back after a short break from posting here. I’ve tried to get my life on track (i’m lonely, have a low income job, was out of shape, in bad debt, no real family) and over the past few months lost about 10-15 lbs, dress better, got back to college after a four year absence (for accounting). I’ve been trying to get my finances in order but now it’s just getting the best of me. I make so little income that I don’t have much left over at the end of the month. I still owe $500 to credit cards, $200 in due bills, and a terrible $2200 to MBNA Bank at 26.99% interest. I was such a fool a few years ago and I let that company get the best of me over a stupid computer. It’s tough paying off things myself because I make only $7.50 an hour, plus I go to school full time now and I’ve been winging this alone (with some help from my mom who recently made strides to putting our family back together). But it’s so hard. I’ve cut so many bills/luxuries/etc and once I get my back debts paid my monthly bills will be $825 a month (rent, all bills, luxuries). I bring home around $1050 a month so things are still a little too tight. Unfortunately I work at a terrible job and they just took away our .50 more per hour incentive and now i’m stuck back at 7.50 an hour. I’m getting straight A’s in college but two weeks ago, on the way home from college I got into my first car accident and totalled my car (raining, tight turn, not used to driving back from college yet, skid into the other lane and got hit by a truck). My car was totaled and I had to pay $115 to the towing company and turn over my title (this was a 1987 piece of crap car) but I had to borrow money to pay the towing company. Every day you leave it there after a week they charge you $25 a day. Thankfully my mom is letting me use her car until I figure out what to do. I must say driving again was very scary for the first few days. That was my first accident in seven years of driving. My college changed me from in sponsor tuition to out of sponsor tuiton and I went from getting a $170 refund to owing $540. This was because when I moved 2 1/2 years ago (my first ever apartment) I never got a "moving permit" and my local taxes were messed up. So, for the past few weeks i’ve been trying to prove that I live in District but the Administration Office talks to me with such disrespect and talks down to me like i’m some child. All I wanted was information on how to fix the problem and they talk to me terribly. Fixing the problem involved paying MONEY, for the permit, paying the local taxes I owed plus late fees ($60 total), and now I have to wait for a copy of the tax bill and per capita receipt, whatever the heck that is. Today, things got better… I got a letter from the District Justice, the cop is giving me a ticket for the accident… "driving faster than I should have in dangerous weather." Fine was $25.00. After all other costs… $99.50. So there goes some more money I was going to use to try and get out of debt. So it’s not only good enough that I lost my car, lost $115 for the towing, but now pay another $100. Sure it was my fault but come on. Right after the accident happened, witnesses that live around the area said there is always an accident there when the weather is bad. They have no signs, it’s a terrible turn and to tell you the truth I was only going 35. My car just sucked and I still can’t believe it happened, as I said i’d never had an accident before, ever (i’m 25). So now i’m hating life completely again — things just keep putting me down, my life keeps getting (at least feeling) worse. I owe money for local taxes. I owe money for a moving permit. I owe money for per capita. My college refund (that I was counting on) will never come. I don’t have my own car. I live by myself. I make $7.50 an hour and hate my job. Everything is always my fault. No matter what i’m doing, trying my best to *do the right thing*, *meet new people*, *get back to college*, things always try and stop me. People always want more production from you… and want to pay you less money. You always owe someone money and they want it *now*. When they owe you money, you get it when they want to give it to you. Life is just not fair. And i’m not talking a little unfair, I’m saying that this just is not right. And to top it off I haven’t had a relationship in two years, have few friends, and people (women) just aren’t interested in me. Not good looking enough, smart enough, don’t have connections of friends, I have no money. Man. Sitting home on a Friday night alone is one thing, doing it when you have no money (but work all the time) is worse. Being in debt forever makes it *even worse*. I just hate everything right now. I’m going to sleep. Thanks for listening.

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 2. There is NO $2,000 level. The levels are: Bronze $1,000 Silver $3,000 Gold $10,000 Platinum $25,000 Titanium $150,000 —

eBay has just announced four additional PowerSeller levels: Pewter $500/mo Tin $100/mo Paper $50/lifetime Tinfoil Registered a credit card/at least one feedback.

Response:

You have to take mud baths with Meg on her private jet.

Response:

is there an aluminium power seller level? j/k

Response:

eBay has just announced four additional PowerSeller levels: Pewter $500/mo Tin $100/mo Paper $50/lifetime Tinfoil Registered a credit card/at least one feedback.

What, no latex level?  (Sell more adult toys than a porn shop near a Navy base) http://members.aol.com/kimmurphy/ Kimberly’s Barbie Collection: http://members.aol.com/kimmurphy/barbies.html

Response:

Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller? Mike.

Response:

Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller? Mike.

Have $2000 in sales for at least two months in a row. Keep your neg feedback at a 1% ratio or less. Keep your accounts in good standing. Follow eBay policies. McPig

Response:

Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller?

http://pages.ebay.com/services/buyandsell/powersellers.html — Moronization: a form of acculturation where people are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the benefits of a technology without any understanding of the engineering (or lack thereof.) For example: Any Microsoft technology.

Response:

Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller? Mike. Have $2000 in sales for at least two months in a row. Keep your neg feedback at a 1% ratio or less. Keep your accounts in good standing. Follow eBay policies. McPig

Incredible disinformation, Pigger. 1. It’s THREE months 2. There is NO $2,000 level. The levels are: Bronze $1,000 Silver $3,000 Gold $10,000 Platinum $25,000 Titanium $150,000 —         Mac (doogle)

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller? Mike. Have $2000 in sales for at least two months in a row. Keep your neg feedback at a 1% ratio or less. Keep your accounts in good standing. Follow eBay policies. McPig Incredible disinformation, Pigger. 1. It’s THREE months 2. There is NO $2,000 level. The levels are: Bronze $1,000 Silver $3,000 Gold $10,000 Platinum $25,000 Titanium $150,000 —         Mac (doogle)

One thing I did notice though when I looked at the powerseller web site. "There are now five levels to aspire to within the new and improved PowerSeller Program. Each requires a seller to meet and maintain a preset level of average gross monthly sales for the past three months of selling activity" Does this mean if you sell $3,000 one month, and don’t sell at all the next two, you’d be qualified for powerseller status since you averaged $1,000 per month?  More importantly, does this mean that once powerseller status is achieved, you could maintain it by having a heavy month now and then, as long as you averaged out to at least a grand a month? Doesn’t impact me personally, since I wasn’t planning on buying insurance through eBay, but those of you looking at this as a way to get a deal on insurance might look into it further, perhaps by contacting eBay and requesting something more definite. Richard Ward

Response:

says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller? Mike. Have $2000 in sales for at least two months in a row. Keep your neg feedback at a 1% ratio or less. Keep your accounts in good standing. Follow eBay policies. McPig Incredible disinformation, Pigger. 1. It’s THREE months 2. There is NO $2,000 level. The levels are: Bronze $1,000 Silver $3,000 Gold $10,000 Platinum $25,000 Titanium $150,000 —         Mac (doogle) One thing I did notice though when I looked at the powerseller web site. "There are now five levels to aspire to within the new and improved PowerSeller Program. Each requires a seller to meet and maintain a preset level of average gross monthly sales for the past three months of selling activity" Does this mean if you sell $3,000 one month, and don’t sell at all the next two, you’d be qualified for powerseller status since you averaged $1,000 per month?  

As I read it, yes. Matter of fact, it’s the only way to explain how *I* got to be Bronze PS (however temporary it might be). I know, without doing an accounting, that I’ve not done $1,000 or more *per month, in 3 months running*, ever. Just the occassional $1,500 or a little more every now and then, and just happened to catch a 3 month cycle where I "squeaked in". More importantly, does this mean that once powerseller status is achieved, you could maintain it by having a heavy month now and then, as long as you averaged out to at least a grand a month?

All good questions. Doesn’t impact me personally, since I wasn’t planning on buying insurance through eBay, but those of you looking at this as a way to get a deal on insurance might look into it further, perhaps by contacting eBay and requesting something more definite. Richard Ward

eBay has this way of only telling enough about anything to make you always have to beg for the finer points. I’m not sure they KNOW what some of those points ARE. Sort of like new laws that aren’t tested for constitutionality until a case arises. —         Mac

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller? Mike. Have $2000 in sales for at least two months in a row. Keep your neg feedback at a 1% ratio or less. Keep your accounts in good standing. Follow eBay policies. McPig

Oink! When you start flying, remind me to get a helmet Mac pointed out about the 1 k, not 2. Let me add: The neg feedback has to be 2% or less, not 1%. David "If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat."                                     — Mark Twain

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller? Mike. Have $2000 in sales for at least two months in a row. Keep your neg feedback at a 1% ratio or less. Keep your accounts in good standing. Follow eBay policies. McPig Incredible disinformation, Pigger. 1. It’s THREE months 2. There is NO $2,000 level. The levels are: Bronze $1,000 Silver $3,000 Gold $10,000 Platinum $25,000 Titanium $150,000 —         Mac (doogle)

Are you serious? I guess I need to keep up. I considered finding the web address, but didn’t really feel like looking for it. McPig

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just curious. What do you have to do to qualify as a eBay powerseller? Mike. Have $2000 in sales for at least two months in a row. Keep your neg feedback at a 1% ratio or less. Keep your accounts in good standing. Follow eBay policies. McPig Oink! When you start flying, remind me to get a helmet Mac pointed out about the 1 k, not 2. Let me add: The neg feedback has to be 2% or less, not 1%. David "If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat."                                     — Mark Twain

When I made power seller, I am pretty sure these were the guide lines. When I’m wrong I’m wrong. McPig

Response:

Oink! When you start flying, remind me to get a helmet Mac pointed out about the 1 k, not 2. Let me add: The neg feedback has to be 2% or less, not 1%.

This is why I simply posted the exact place to get the official information from ebaY itself.  I don’t see any point in there having to be a half dozen posts arguing about the details because someone got something wrong in the way they remembered the rules, which have changed recently. — Moronization: a form of acculturation where people are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the benefits of a technology without any understanding of the engineering (or lack thereof.) For example: Any Microsoft technology.

Response:

Are you serious? I guess I need to keep up. I considered finding the web address, but didn’t really feel like looking for it.

It’s been completely changed, but just click on anyone’s powerseller logo by their seller name. — Moronization: a form of acculturation where people are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the benefits of a technology without any understanding of the engineering (or lack thereof.) For example: Any Microsoft technology.

Response:

Does this mean if you sell $3,000 one month, and don’t sell at all the next two, you’d be qualified for powerseller status since you averaged $1,000 per month?

Interesting question, and I read it the same way you suggest.  It used to be that you had to meet $2000 for at least two months running to get in, then maintain $2000 at least two out of three months, with a one month grace period IIRC, so you could be $2K, $2K, $0, $0, $2K, $2K, $0, $0 or $2K, $0, $2K, $0 once you were in. The lowering of the standard, but requiring it for three months average, puts a whole new spin on it, not to mention making it easier.  It makes more sense this way, when you think about it.  The old way you could lose because you fell $50 under for three months in a row, and do $10K the rest of the time.  The averaging, instead of monthly dollar limits, will help smooth out seasonal variations. More importantly, does this mean that once powerseller status is achieved, you could maintain it by having a heavy month now and then, as long as you averaged out to at least a grand a month?

It would have to be at least every third month, on average.  You couldn’t do $12,000 one month and nothing the rest of the year. — Moronization: a form of acculturation where people are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the benefits of a technology without any understanding of the engineering (or lack thereof.) For example: Any Microsoft technology.

Response:

Question:

"Thomas Bunetta" <advan…@ewol.com> wrote in message

news:LV7d9.1908$Ie6.110@fe02… > Hi Bob, > Welcome back. I remember the original post, and it is timely to see the > re-post… Thanks. > You’re right, of course… but as you have probably read in a thread that is > still running, we don’t deserve to make a decent living (according to some, > at least!)! > I wish I made 130K, sadly I’m forced to get by on substantially less… but > I believe I earn every dime! > Tom

But Tom! If you make a penny more than Therese you are a criminal and should be executed. Her pay is the standard for all others. She loves her job and only does it because she enjoys it. If she quits because she enjoys idleness, we should not receive any pay either (well maybe the welfare check). How greedy of you to expect payment based on the amount of work you do! Michael

Response:

This is a repost from a couple of years ago. Sorry if the formatting isn’t perfect, as I cut and pasted the bulk of this from the old post. I have updated the costs to reflect the current market. Please note that I work in ITE manufacturing, and the following applies to in the ear aids, not BTE’s. I have worked in the hearing aid manufacturing industry for over 15 years, primarily in the actual manufacturing end of things. Who I work for is not important, as I’m not here to promote my particular company or products, but rather would sincerely like to help you get a better understanding of the industry. I’ve been lurking on this NG for a few weeks, and I think I can answer some of your questions. Excuse me for the anonymous post, but I don’t think my employer or our accounts would be particularly happy about this. One thread I found particularly interesting concerned the high price of hearing aids. This is the main topic I will try to address with this post. One participant claimed that Texas Instruments manufactured the majority of  DSP IC’s used in the industry (absolutely false! As far as I know, they produce none) while another claimed that the components used were "not much different from a $20 wristwatch" (find me a wristwatch that will fit in your ear and includes a miniature microphone and speaker). Another speculated that hearing aids were probably "at least partially assembled by hand" (partially true), and probably cost <$100 to manufacture. Components Let’s start with hearing aid components. Due to the relatively small size of the industry, there are few companies that will make the investment to produce ultra-miniature components (particularly transducers).  Companies that supply the industry are: Microphones and speakers (transducers) Knowles Electronics  ( http://www.knowlesinc.com/ )  Microtronic ( http://www.microtronic.dk/ ) Tantalum leaded capacitors and leaded resistors Tansitor  ( http://www.tansitor.com/ )  AVX    ( http://www.avxcorp.com/ ) Seigert (sorry – can’t find a link) Volume controls and potentiometers Resistance Technology  ( http://www.rti-corp.com/ ) Microtronic ( http://www.microtronic.dk/ ) Microphones range from $8 to $14 each, receivers from $10 to $20 (at large volumes). Volumes controls are around $3 each, and potentiometers are $2 Circuits Circuitry is a mixed bag in the industry. There are a couple of companies that manufacture "off the shelf" circuitry, mainly Gennum ( http://www.gennum.com/ ) and Etymotic Research  ( http://www.etymotic.com/html/index.html ). Etymotic supplies a few specific circuits (they developed the K-Amp) while Gennum offers a wide variety of different types of amplifiers (and just recently a fairly generic digital circuit).The circuits are configured differently by each hearing aid manufacturer to meet their goals for compression characteristics, SSPL and gain, frequency shaping etc. 10 years ago, Gennum circuits were in the majority of hearing aids sold in the U.S., but times have changed. While many linear aids may very well still use stock circuits, most digitally programmable and digital signal processor circuits have been developed by the hearing aid manufacturers, and either made in-house or contracted out to a custom hybrid manufacturer.  The cost of the latest, feature laden digital circuitry alone has dropped from $200 two years ago, to around $70 today. Isn’t that what everyone has been waiting for

Question:

Wouldn’t be from Sydney would we? Jake

Response:

<snipped They do not need Accountants in Melbourne. The People have no money and all the companies are foreign and have their Accunts done off-shore. PEM

What do they do off shore?  :-)) Oh … you are soooooooooooooooo rude!

Response:

Does anybody know anything about KNP Chartered Accountants in Melbourne? There don’t appear to be any web-based resources for this company. Aren’t they in the 21st Century yet? They do not need Accountants in Melbourne. The People have no money and all the companies are foreign and have their Accunts done off-shore.

Oh, thanks, I was worried that I wouldn’t get a serious answer.

Response:

 Does anybody know anything about KNP Chartered Accountants in Melbourne? I’m certain that KNP Chartered Accountants would.

There don’t appear to be any web-based resources for this company. You don’t appear to have a proper handle on the Queen’s English.

Aren’t they in the 21st Century yet? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have you even reached the 20th century? Use a friggin’ telephone!

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Does anybody know anything about KNP Chartered Accountants in Melbourne? I’m certain that KNP Chartered Accountants would.

But would they tell me everything they know? Do you understand the concept of research? There don’t appear to be any web-based resources for this company. You don’t appear to have a proper handle on the Queen’s English.

Interesting…what, specifically, has led you to this hypothesis? Are you sure you aren’t merely an idiot in disguise? Aren’t they in the 21st Century yet? Have you even reached the 20th century? Use a friggin’ telephone!

Why should I do that when I am already in the 21st Century and waiting for retards like yourself to catch up?

Response:

Does anybody know anything about KNP Chartered Accountants in Melbourne? There don’t appear to be any web-based resources for this company. Aren’t they in the 21st Century yet?

Response:

Does anybody know anything about KNP Chartered Accountants in Melbourne? There don’t appear to be any web-based resources for this company. Aren’t they in the 21st Century yet?

They do not need Accountants in Melbourne. The People have no money and all the companies are foreign and have their Accunts done off-shore. PEM

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Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So you’re replying to me again. Your wife must have stolen some narcotics from the disturbed individuals she empties bedpans for in order to restore some sense of family equilibrium around your place. Isolationism is stupid. Almost as stupid as signing on to something because "everybody else is doing Exactly! While there is probably a fairly universal consensus that there is some global warming in effect, we cannot, with any certainty, determine whether this is or is not part of the normal climatical cycle that this planet has gone through since its inception (And we’ve only had the technology to monitor this for about a half century now). Furthermore, we cannot differentiate the contributions of "greenhouse gasses" which are the direct result of human activity, from that of natural occurances, such as volcanic eruption (like what is currently happening at Mt. Etna). Without a more solid foundation of data, it would be impossible to predict what changes would be necessary, or whether extremist measures would even have a noticable effect. Dismissing alarmist positions, that could be potentially devastating to the economies  and lifestyles of many of the worlds citizens, as "needing further study" is hardly being "isolationist". We’re simply taking a more prudent and cautious approach to the whole situation. Dave Nice spew of the Republican party line b.s., almost word for word. The reality is, there’s nothing behind it except the desire to pay off corporate campaign contributors,

Oh really? There was nothing "party line" at all about what I posted. These were all my own thoughts based on logic, instead of alarmism. Can you tell me for certain exactly what effect the human race has had on the increases of green house gasses that are generally believed to be the root cause of "global warming"? Do you know what the level of greenhouse gasses were 1000 years ago? 10,000? 100,000? What caused the Ice age? What ended it? It is clear to me and anyone with the ability to THINK, that there are more factors at work on this planet than the emissions of fossil fuel. Before you dismiss the cautious approach as "republicrap", do yourself a favor and think a little. the same as there is nothing behind Bush’s version of a patient bill of rights except for mushy legislation that shields bad acting insurance companies,

It would be nice to have the full patient’s Bill of rights. Afterall, who wouldn’t want to have carte blance control over their medical coverage, including the right to sue if they suffer a hangnail at the hands of their doctor? What you have to realize is that there is no free lunch. These proposals, while certainly beneficial to the average Joe, open the door to abuses, and the almost certain cost of legal representation and will drive the costs to the insurance companies through the roof. These escalating costs will eventually be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher medical insurance premiums. This would almost certainly result in even fewer people with the ability to afford decent healthcare coverage. Is that what you want? If you can find a way to give the citizen absolute control over their medical coverage, without increasing the cost of it, I’d like to see it. But as usual, you can only see one side of it. and nothing behind Bush’s Social Security reform other than a desire to pay off Wall Street.

You are really starting to sound like a cynical conspiracy theorist. In case you’ve been too busy to watch the trends, you should know that in the next 10 years the burden on social security will expand tremendously. With more being taken out than being put in, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that the fund will run dry at some point. Whether that happens in 2018, 2032, or 2040, is irrelevant. What needs to be done NOW is to find a way to make sure that Social Security remains stable. The only way to do that is increase the amount going in. You can increase the SS tax, or maybe invest it in something that will earn interest. Or…… Maybe we just get the government out of the business of taking care of people. Afterall, it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to provide for our own retirement. Dave

Response:

Harry’s a socialist.  Thus, he thinks that what’s yours belongs to him. This leads a lot of people into crime.

Harry’s not a socialist, he’s a wife. The wives creed:     What’s mine is mine.     What’s yours is mine. Bert Robbins

Response:

Harry’s a socialist.  Thus, he thinks that what’s yours belongs to him. This leads a lot of people into crime.

Huh???  I really doubt that.  What would he do with a vast assortment of musical instruments, a set of golf clubs, an old beat ‘87 Ford Ranger 4×4, and an even older 1975 Sea Star 17′ trihull I/O? My PC?  Yeah, he’d probably want that once I’m done customizing it….  I always say:  the best home PC is the one that you build yourself. Butch Ammon My web page: http://members.aol.com/ammonc/butch.html

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Harry’s a socialist.  Thus, he thinks that what’s yours belongs to him. This leads a lot of people into crime. Harry’s not a socialist, he’s a wife. The wives creed:     What’s mine is mine.     What’s yours is mine. Bert Robbins

Doubt there’s anything you have that would interest me, Bert, though your pea-brain would look good in a pickle jar up on the shelf… — Harry Krause Let’s play horse I’ll be the front, you just be yourself

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Exactly! While there is probably a fairly universal consensus that there is some global warming in effect, we cannot, with any certainty, determine whether this is or is not part of the normal climatical cycle that this planet has gone through since its inception (And we’ve only had the technology to monitor this for about a half century now). Furthermore, we cannot differentiate the contributions of "greenhouse gasses" which are the direct result of human activity, from that of natural occurances, such as volcanic eruption (like what is currently happening at Mt. Etna). Without a more solid foundation of data, it would be impossible to predict what changes would be necessary, or whether extremist measures would even have a noticable effect. Dismissing alarmist positions, that could be potentially devastating to the economies  and lifestyles of many of the worlds citizens, as "needing further study" is hardly being "isolationist". We’re simply taking a more prudent and cautious approach to the whole situation. Dave Nice spew of the Republican party line b.s., almost word for word. The reality is, there’s nothing behind it except the desire to pay off corporate campaign contributors, the same as there is nothing behind Bush’s version of a patient bill of rights except for mushy legislation that shields bad acting insurance companies, and nothing behind Bush’s Social Security reform other than a desire to pay off Wall Street. It’s Republicrap…all of it.

Let’s see about 25 years ago we were accelerating, logarithmically, into an ice age. This was predicated on the fact that we were experiencing cooler than normal temperatures. Now 25 years later, geologically not even a measurable amount of time, we are again accelerating into burning up the planet. It is amazing that the human population can do this much damage in this amount of time to reverse the next coming of an ice age and turn the entire planet into a desert. Were we misled 25 years ago? Did we have enough data to say we were going into an ice age? Who were the people that we promoting the ice age? Are they the same people that are talking about global warming now? Should we believe them? Can we believe them? If Harry would just open his mind to the possibility that his liberal socialist masters are wrong he might be able to use his, self described, brain power to actually analyze the data and come to his own conclusion about quit a number of things. Why do we teach our children to do things for themselves and think for themselves? With the hope and desire for them to be able to actually do for themselves and think for themselves and not be dependent upon us, the parents, for the rest of their lives. Bert Robbins

Response:

[SNIP] UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States on Monday warned a U.N. meeting on small arms trafficking it was prepared to do battle to defend the rights of arms makers and legal gun owners — even when the guns they want to own were specifically designed for war.

Maybe they should start eliminating cars, planes, and radios, all of which were designed for war. [ . . . ] "People all over the world are looking to this conference for meaningful steps toward enhancing human security and preventing further suffering and destruction of life," Harri Holkeri of Finland, president of the 189-nation U.N. General Assembly, said as the meeting opened.

Until cellular-phone sales put Finnish electronics on the map, Finland’s primary exports were from the Valmet small-arms plants to US gunwoners. "The United States is going to isolate itself from its closest allies," said Loretta Bondi of the Washington-based Fund for Peace.

Good!  Maybe next time they have a war, they won’t ask us to join in. Come to think of it, we’ve been at war AGAINST each of our "closest allies" at some point in the last 225 years . . . Brazilian delegate Rubem Cesar Fernandes said, ”It sounded like they wanted the conference to collapse."

Imbel, the Brazil small-arms manufacturer, has only remained in business for 25 years on the basis of gun sales to US citizens.  By remaining in business, they have been able to also make arms for Brazil, so the country didn’t have to equip their police and army from foreign sources. Anti-gun activists, on the other hand, want to crack down on both legal and illegal arms deals, arguing that the vast majority of illegal weapons started out as legal.

And most tyrants started out as legitimate government officials. Socialists like Harry elected Adolf Hitler, for instance. The action plan calls for national laws requiring that arms be marked when they are made so they can be traced,

Gee, you mean, like, say, stamp a SERIAL NUMBER on them . . ?  What a novel idea! Citing "ambiguities," he said the United States also opposed a proposal that governments "seriously consider" banning the unrestricted sale and ownership of small arms "specifically designed for military purposes."

Like, say, flintlocks, revolvers, semi-auto pistols, lever-action rifles, everything ever made by the Browning Arms folks . . . Earlier, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette told the conference that small arms have been the weapon of choice in 46 of 49 major conflicts since 1990, contributing to some 4 million deaths, with women and children accounting for 80 percent of those deaths.

Disarmament of the intended victims has been the weapon of choice of all tyrants and in every genocide for the last several centuries. While most of the 500 million small arms in circulation are in the hands of police forces, armies and lawful private owners, "a significant number end up in the hands of irregular forces, criminals and terrorists," she told the thousands of delegates, activists and weapons makers attending the meeting. [UNSNIP]

Yep.  Generally these are stolen from police forces and armies. Unfortunately, gun buyers don’t have to demonstrate intelligence or emotional balance before purchasing their weapons, else Henry here would be limited to pounding his pud instead of drawing beads on his neighbors.

Unfortunately, voters don’t have to demonstrate intelligence or emotional balance before casting their ballots, else Harry here would be limited to pounding his pud instead of drawing beads on his neighbors’ rights.

Response:

Harry’s a socialist.  Thus, he thinks that what’s yours belongs to him. This leads a lot of people into crime. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And if there were justice, foul-mouthed, flat line EEGers such as you wouldn’t be allowed to buy anything more dangerous than Lincoln logs. The thread is going pretty much exactly as you hoped, isn’t it? What’s all this talk about you flashing a busload of children? Is that true? Are you some kind of pervert? You seem quite conversant on Bush’s arrest record. Enlighten us as to your own. I don’t have a record myself. I’ve passed a 25 year FBI background investigation, and I’m always intrigued as to what leads folks into criminal acts. What was the trigger in your case? Delete ImtheNRA in order to spam me. The Second Amendment isn’t about deer hunting.

Response:

And if there were justice, foul-mouthed, flat line EEGers such as you wouldn’t be allowed to buy anything more dangerous than Lincoln logs.

The thread is going pretty much exactly as you hoped, isn’t it? What’s all this talk about you flashing a busload of children? Is that true? Are you some kind of pervert? You seem quite conversant on Bush’s arrest record. Enlighten us as to your own. I don’t have a record myself. I’ve passed a 25 year FBI background investigation, and I’m always intrigued as to what leads folks into criminal acts. What was the trigger in your case? Delete ImtheNRA in order to spam me. The Second Amendment isn’t about deer hunting.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The stance fueled criticism that the United States is taking isolationist positions on a number of multilateral issues, after Washington’s rejection of a climate change accord and its doubts about other arms-control agreements. It takes a lot more courage to do the unpopular things. Courage is something that was in extremely short supply during the last administration. Hmmm, nuking Canada wouldn’t be too popular.

Depends on who you ask.  And how clean the bombs.  There are a lot of folks (in the US and Canada) who consider Ottawa a prime candidate for Instant Urban Renewal.

Response:

GENEVA (AP)

Question:

I had hoped it would be developing along the lines initially that our own Institute in New Zealand (ICANZ) mooted, that of a COllege of Business Professionals, which would encompass a wider catchment business disciplines e.g. management consultant, IT, HR etc.

That was the theory of Cognitor (formerly XYZ) as well, though obviously with the accountants in control.  I suspect that latter issue is going to be a major sticking point <grin. However ICANZ has gone down the cognitor path and I’m unsure about whether all it will do is make the accounting,only, aspect of the qualification transferrable

I’m not sure it will do that either.  Many of the items that make accountants "locally licensed" are going to take a long time to change.  In fact, that was part of the reason why this search for an international business (as opposed to accounting) credential. Right now my own belief is that the Cognitor concept (or the New Zealand College of Business Professionals if you prefer) is primarily of use for large, multidisciplinary consulting firms that have no natural "glue" to hold them together.  For most local firms in the US, there’s not much apparent gain from being labelled a "Cognitor" (except perhaps to pay an annual fee to the AICPA <grin).

Response:

I am seeking feedback on the 1.) acceptance(or otherwise) of this project in other countries. I am aware that the Irish and Scots have dumped it. 2.) I can’t get a line on whether this is a credential being touted by the large CPA/CA firms to get a global public practice certificate type of credential or not. I had hoped it would be developing along the lines initially that our own Institute in New Zealand (ICANZ) mooted, that of a COllege of Business Professionals, which would encompass a wider catchment business disciplines e.g. management consultant, IT, HR etc. However ICANZ has gone down the cognitor path and I’m unsure about whether all it will do is make the accounting,only, aspect of the qualification transferrable Martin McEvoy B.Com. CA. Consultant Business Minds Ltd. "Complexity tamed Problems solved Stuff-ups fixed ..developing increased profits through the same people but better systems" http://www.zfree.co.nz

Response:

I am seeking feedback on the 1.) acceptance(or otherwise) of this project in other countries. I am aware that the Irish and Scots have dumped it.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has also decided to pull out of the global designation project.  http://www.accountingweb.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=27905&d=101 — Jim Hudspeth, CPA – http://home.att.net/~jdhcpa/mainpage.html – Washington, USA Associate Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

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Question:

Definitely try Insulin Infusion Specialties. They have been very accommodating with my extremely difficult insurance company. We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. -WW

Response:

Thanks, I will check with insulininfusion.com.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been ordering my pump supplies from MiniMed every three months and they seem reluctant to accept the 90% that my insurance pays as payment in full, despite the fact that I can document financial hardship.  I feel that they are gouging us and would like to find another supplier that would accept what the insurance pays, since 90% is a good amount.  Does anyone have any experience or recommendations as to who I might work with?  I use the Silouhette infusion sets, standard reservoirs, the power pack and IV3000 dressing.  Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. You may want to check with a local medical supply house.  Although they would not have these items in stock, they may be willing to order them for you and would accept the insurance assignment.  They would charge your insurance company more than what MiniMed charges. Another option for supplies are mail order pharmacies like 50-50 and http://insulininfusion.com Good luck, Marilyn T1 for 33 years, pumping for the last 11

Response:

I understand your problem (I feel your pain???), but I thought it was frowned upon by insurance companies to waive the 10%.  I think it has to do with making sure there is no hanky-panky going on with the prices.  If they did cover the 10%, it would have to be from a third party, like their compassionate account. It’s a weird accounting exercise, but I think that’s where it stands. jeff I have been ordering my pump supplies from MiniMed every three months and they seem reluctant to accept the 90% that my insurance pays as payment in full, despite the fact that I can document financial hardship.  I feel that they are gouging us and would like to find another supplier that would accept what the insurance pays, since 90% is a good amount.  Does anyone have any experience or recommendations as to who I might work with?  I use the Silouhette infusion sets, standard reservoirs, the power pack and IV3000 dressing.  Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Antonio

   http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

Response:

I was at an ADA convention recently where MinMed said compassionate use was still a few months away. Doug B. — Buck Type II, Insulin www.diabeticnet.com

I have been ordering my pump supplies from MiniMed every three months and they seem reluctant to accept the 90% that my insurance pays as payment in full, despite the fact that I can document financial hardship.  I feel that they are gouging us and would like to find another supplier that would accept what the insurance pays, since 90% is a good amount.  Does anyone have any experience or recommendations as to who I might work with?  I use the Silouhette infusion sets, standard reservoirs, the power pack and IV3000 dressing.  Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

You may want to check with a local medical supply house.  Although they would not have these items in stock, they may be willing to order them for you and would accept the insurance assignment.  They would charge your insurance company more than what MiniMed charges. Another option for supplies are mail order pharmacies like 50-50 and http://insulininfusion.com Good luck, Marilyn T1 for 33 years, pumping for the last 11

Response:

I have been ordering my pump supplies from MiniMed every three months and they seem reluctant to accept the 90% that my insurance pays as payment in full, despite the fact that I can document financial hardship.  I feel that they are gouging us and would like to find another supplier that would accept what the insurance pays, since 90% is a good amount.  Does anyone have any experience or recommendations as to who I might work with?  I use the Silouhette infusion sets, standard reservoirs, the power pack and IV3000 dressing.  Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Antonio

Response:

I have been ordering my pump supplies from MiniMed every three months and they seem reluctant to accept the 90% that my insurance pays as payment in full, despite the fact that I can document financial hardship.  I feel that they are gouging us and would like to find another supplier that would accept what the insurance pays, since 90% is a good amount.  Does anyone have any experience or recommendations as to who I might work with?  I use the Silouhette infusion sets, standard reservoirs, the power pack and IV3000 dressing.  Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

You may want to check with a local medical supply house.  Although they would not have these items in stock, they may be willing to order them for you and would accept the insurance assignment.  They would charge your insurance company more than what MiniMed charges. Another option for supplies are mail order pharmacies like 50-50 and http://insulininfusion.com Good luck, Marilyn T1 for 33 years, pumping for the last 11

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Question:

Whooo-eeee!!  Gotta go to the Adult video store, pick up Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom… Busy night for me, watching Apes holding their toes!  :-P (psst hey, wait till you see the spider monkeys going at it.  nothing more erotic than that.) — "Their scientific inquiries put them on a Collision Course with government, business, religion and society. They were and are heroes in The Quest For Truth."

Response:

-Where are the pornographic pictures on Daisy’s site? Which pictures -are you specifically talking about?  YOU make an accusation – back it -up with specifics.   – -You don’t see any pornographic pictures?  Must be something wrong with -my browser then.  I see a chimpanzee holding his cock. ROFLOL!  You’re kidding right?  First of all  that looks more like an orangutan to me.  But regarding his behavior – SO WHAT!  This is an animal behaving just like a normal animal.  The only pornography is in your mind.  Do you stand outside of zoos and protest the animals’ pornographic behavior and scream each time an evil parent takes a child inside? –2.  All the pictures you post have been submitted with permission from –the principals.  I’m assuming, of course, that Hillary Clinton did not –give her permission to post her picture on Daisy’s site. – -I did catch this, but I’m a professional Webmaster who answers to a -Board of Directors and who has an acceptable use policy I have to -adhere to ESPECIALLY for my personal site.  Daisy nor Ken have/had -this. – -Daisy does…I don’t know about Ken.  However, my original complaint -was when I saw it on Ken’s site.   Daisy does not.  She doesn’t have a board of directors and is not a Webmaster.   -I happen to have the utmost regard for Hillary…and I object to -someone making fun of her in this manner.  It is objectionable to me. DUH!  Then don’t go to Daisy’s site.  You remind me of the old woman who went to the tavern every Saturday night to protest the loud music and wild time had by all.  If you don’t like it, don’t go. -If Daisy is not sure about including the picture, she would be well -advised to contact GeoCities for clarification. – -However, here’s an excerpt from their Guidelines… – -"What do you mean by nudity or pornography? -This includes images and text that do not reflect the concept of -community that we cherish and offer to our Homesteaders, visitors and -sponsors