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Slow Start Stubbie
Author: BobR
Date: 02/20/2013 13:57:31
Getting a slow start this morning. Watch this space for an actual blog...
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 14:09:29
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 14:09:29
Morning all.
Comment by 
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 14:13:00
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 14:13:00
Morning 
Comment by 
Raine on 02/20/2013 14:15:03
Good Morning!
Raine on 02/20/2013 14:15:03
Good Morning!
Comment by 
TriSec on 02/20/2013 14:28:10
TriSec on 02/20/2013 14:28:10
Bob having trouble with the Blog. (Big Log)
Comment by wickedpam on 02/20/2013 14:41:35
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 14:41:35
Here's some 
for that whine, caller Matt. 
for that whine, caller Matt.
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 14:43:25
That was an especially good firebagger.
Raine on 02/20/2013 14:43:25
Quote by wickedpam:
Here's some
Comment by TriSec on 02/20/2013 14:47:00
TriSec on 02/20/2013 14:47:00
Wha?
The VA has processed only 75 claims electronically, ever?
The last test file I got was bigger than that. And we processed almost 15,000 claims electronically yesterday.
What the hell???
The VA has processed only 75 claims electronically, ever?
The last test file I got was bigger than that. And we processed almost 15,000 claims electronically yesterday.
What the hell???
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 14:54:26
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 14:54:26
Hey Columbo, say "one more thing" to me again and I will drive to Ontario and beat you with a tire iron.
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 14:56:00
Raine on 02/20/2013 14:56:00
Sorry, if you're seeing this message our Free Republic server is still down. We're working to bring it back online. Nothing sinister and no hack attack. Just a hardware crash. Definitely will have to replace our database server.
We're in the process of purchasing a new db server and hope to install it later tonight today.
Very sorry about the downtime.
You may wish to bookmark one or more of the following discussion sites where we leave messages:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freerepublic2/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/26012226159/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Republic/141344792800
Thank you very much,
Jim and John Robinson
[email protected]
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 14:56:45
That's it? Well I'm thinking there could be some room for improvements in that area.
Raine on 02/20/2013 14:56:45
Quote by TriSec:
Wha?
The VA has processed only 75 claims electronically, ever?
The last test file I got was bigger than that. And we processed almost 15,000 claims electronically yesterday.
What the hell???
That's it? Well I'm thinking there could be some room for improvements in that area.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:05:33
Really? Then their back log makes more sense.
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:05:33
Quote by TriSec:
Wha?
The VA has processed only 75 claims electronically, ever?
The last test file I got was bigger than that. And we processed almost 15,000 claims electronically yesterday.
What the hell???
Really? Then their back log makes more sense.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:06:05
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:06:05
Quote by Raine:Sorry, if you're seeing this message our Free Republic server is still down. We're working to bring it back online. Nothing sinister and no hack attack. Just a hardware crash. Definitely will have to replace our database server.
We're in the process of purchasing a new db server and hope to install it later tonight today.
Very sorry about the downtime.
You may wish to bookmark one or more of the following discussion sites where we leave messages:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freerepublic2/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/26012226159/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Republic/141344792800
Thank you very much,
Jim and John Robinson
[email protected]
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:08:13
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:08:13
Here is today's installment of Republicans Say the Darnest Things!
As a bonus, dig his creepy official photo! He looks like a certain memeafied Romney!
As a bonus, dig his creepy official photo! He looks like a certain memeafied Romney!
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 15:12:02
Oh dear god.
Raine on 02/20/2013 15:12:02
Quote by Mondobubba:
Here is today's installment of Republicans Say the Darnest Things!
As a bonus, dig his creepy official photo! He looks like a certain memeafied Romney!
Comment by 
Scoopster on 02/20/2013 15:13:40
Scoopster on 02/20/2013 15:13:40
Mornin' all & Happy Hump-dee! 
Damn.. I'm the first to admit I'm not really a looker, but if I had this dude's mug.. SHEEEIT
Quote by Mondobubba:
Here is today's installment of Republicans Say the Darnest Things!
As a bonus, dig his creepy official photo! He looks like a certain memeafied Romney
Damn.. I'm the first to admit I'm not really a looker, but if I had this dude's mug.. SHEEEIT
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:26:55
Yeah that picture is just well, wow. Serial killer, crazy stare? YES!
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:26:55
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all & Happy Hump-dee!Quote by Mondobubba:
Here is today's installment of Republicans Say the Darnest Things!
As a bonus, dig his creepy official photo! He looks like a certain memeafied Romney
Damn.. I'm the first to admit I'm not really a looker, but if I had this dude's mug.. SHEEEIT
Yeah that picture is just well, wow. Serial killer, crazy stare? YES!
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:28:08
I'm sure there is somebody out on the internets aggregating the precious things Republicans say, but I've yet to find it.
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:28:08
Quote by Raine:Oh dear god.Quote by Mondobubba:
Here is today's installment of Republicans Say the Darnest Things!
As a bonus, dig his creepy official photo! He looks like a certain memeafied Romney!
I'm sure there is somebody out on the internets aggregating the precious things Republicans say, but I've yet to find it.
Comment by 
Will in Chicago on 02/20/2013 15:40:40
Will in Chicago on 02/20/2013 15:40:40
Good morning, bloggers!!! I hope that everyone is well.
Mondo, you may want to check the last post from yesterday's blog.
Mondo, you may want to check the last post from yesterday's blog.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/20/2013 15:44:10
I purposely go to our Office Depot instead of Staples, sadly though its usually devoid of other consumers and its always so dark. Hope this brings about a total makeover.
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 15:44:10
Quote by Mondobubba:
Coming soon to strip mall near you: Max Office Depot!
I purposely go to our Office Depot instead of Staples, sadly though its usually devoid of other consumers and its always so dark. Hope this brings about a total makeover.
Comment by 
livingonli on 02/20/2013 15:50:59
livingonli on 02/20/2013 15:50:59
Good morning, folks. Finally got the cablecard connected to the TiVo but now it won't connect to the internet. Interesting, how these things work since right now I have no guide data on my TiVo.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/20/2013 15:52:52
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 15:52:52
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:57:36
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 15:57:36
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 16:00:02
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 16:00:02
BTW Mala, the Grump Cat version has links to other versions so you can get up to pop culture speed.
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 16:05:19
It's a new Meme and it is really stupid.
Raine on 02/20/2013 16:05:19
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
I love Harlem!
what is the Harlem Shake? I feel out of touch....
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 16:07:05
Raine on 02/20/2013 16:07:05
Comment by wickedpam on 02/20/2013 16:09:07
grumpy cat as always is cute but that Harlem Shake thing makes no sense to me
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 16:09:07
Quote by Mondobubba:
BTW Mala, the Grump Cat version has links to other versions so you can get up to pop culture speed.
grumpy cat as always is cute but that Harlem Shake thing makes no sense to me
Comment by TriSec on 02/20/2013 16:09:14
TriSec on 02/20/2013 16:09:14
Your Local Disaster Geek reminds everyone that today is the tenth anniversary of The Station fire.
As I remarked at the time..."60 years after the Cocoanut Grove, and people are still dying in nightctlub fires..."
As I remarked at the time..."60 years after the Cocoanut Grove, and people are still dying in nightctlub fires..."
Comment by wickedpam on 02/20/2013 16:09:40
I agree its really stupid, now that I've seen it
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 16:09:40
Quote by Raine:It's a new Meme and it is really stupid.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
I love Harlem!
what is the Harlem Shake? I feel out of touch....
I agree its really stupid, now that I've seen it
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 16:30:55
What part of "Endangered Species Act" don't these assholes understand. Stop riding the sea cows you morons.
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 16:30:55
Quote by Scoopster:
The teadiots take their case to the briny deep!
What part of "Endangered Species Act" don't these assholes understand. Stop riding the sea cows you morons.
Comment by Scoopster on 02/20/2013 17:04:53
I just posted my remembrance on FB..
Scoopster on 02/20/2013 17:04:53
Quote by TriSec:
Your Local Disaster Geek reminds everyone that today is the tenth anniversary of The Station fire.
As I remarked at the time..."60 years after the Cocoanut Grove, and people are still dying in nightctlub fires..."
I just posted my remembrance on FB..
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 17:10:28
Scoop -- for some reason, I never picked up that you were so close to the fire. Maybe I have forgotten over the years...
Raine on 02/20/2013 17:10:28
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by TriSec:
Your Local Disaster Geek reminds everyone that today is the tenth anniversary of The Station fire.
As I remarked at the time..."60 years after the Cocoanut Grove, and people are still dying in nightctlub fires..."
I just posted my remembrance on FB..
Scoop -- for some reason, I never picked up that you were so close to the fire. Maybe I have forgotten over the years...
Comment by Scoopster on 02/20/2013 17:12:36
Not sure if I ever told you guys. This all happened before the AAR/AAP days so it's possible I didn't mention it.
Scoopster on 02/20/2013 17:12:36
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by TriSec:
Your Local Disaster Geek reminds everyone that today is the tenth anniversary of The Station fire.
As I remarked at the time..."60 years after the Cocoanut Grove, and people are still dying in nightctlub fires..."
I just posted my remembrance on FB..
Not sure if I ever told you guys. This all happened before the AAR/AAP days so it's possible I didn't mention it.
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 17:16:59
Raine on 02/20/2013 17:16:59
Jeebus. Ed is talking about this story now.
I wasn't aware of this-- but for krissakes, Lindsey Graham needs to be publically shamed.
I wasn't aware of this-- but for krissakes, Lindsey Graham needs to be publically shamed.
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 17:18:02
It's hard to believe that I have known a few of you for almost 10 years now.
Raine on 02/20/2013 17:18:02
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by TriSec:
Your Local Disaster Geek reminds everyone that today is the tenth anniversary of The Station fire.
As I remarked at the time..."60 years after the Cocoanut Grove, and people are still dying in nightctlub fires..."
I just posted my remembrance on FB..
Not sure if I ever told you guys. This all happened before the AAR/AAP days so it's possible I didn't mention it.
Comment by TriSec on 02/20/2013 17:22:10
TriSec on 02/20/2013 17:22:10
New York Military bases to be hit hard by sequestration
Of course, there's no word on what the effect will be in places like Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, or all the other Red States with a multitude of bases.
Of course, there's no word on what the effect will be in places like Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, or all the other Red States with a multitude of bases.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/20/2013 17:22:23
wow - almost 10 years!
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 17:22:23
Quote by Raine:It's hard to believe that I have known a few of you for almost 10 years now.Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by TriSec:
Your Local Disaster Geek reminds everyone that today is the tenth anniversary of The Station fire.
As I remarked at the time..."60 years after the Cocoanut Grove, and people are still dying in nightctlub fires..."
I just posted my remembrance on FB..
Not sure if I ever told you guys. This all happened before the AAR/AAP days so it's possible I didn't mention it.
wow - almost 10 years!
Comment by TriSec on 02/20/2013 17:24:53
TriSec on 02/20/2013 17:24:53
Say, have we all been following the China hacking story? In this day and age, that's tantamount to an Act of War. Or at the very least, a very serious spy scandal.
But you can't piss off the owners now, can you? I'd say nothing comes of this.
But you can't piss off the owners now, can you? I'd say nothing comes of this.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 17:34:54
All civilian employee of the DoD are facing 22 furlough days starting in April. My gay sugardaddy's life style will be hit hard by this. There is massive economic impact that these Republican assholes don't understand.
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 17:34:54
Quote by TriSec:
New York Military bases to be hit hard by sequestration
Of course, there's no word on what the effect will be in places like Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, or all the other Red States with a multitude of bases.
All civilian employee of the DoD are facing 22 furlough days starting in April. My gay sugardaddy's life style will be hit hard by this. There is massive economic impact that these Republican assholes don't understand.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 17:37:12
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 17:37:12
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 17:38:45
"Never get involved in a land war in Asia!" Vezzinni, in "The Princess Bride." BTW the amount of US debt the Chinese hold is not the largest.
Nothing we are going to hear about.
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 17:38:45
Quote by TriSec:
Say, have we all been following the China hacking story? In this day and age, that's tantamount to an Act of War. Or at the very least, a very serious spy scandal.
But you can't piss off the owners now, can you? I'd say nothing comes of this.
"Never get involved in a land war in Asia!" Vezzinni, in "The Princess Bride." BTW the amount of US debt the Chinese hold is not the largest.
Nothing we are going to hear about.
Comment by livingonli on 02/20/2013 18:08:49
livingonli on 02/20/2013 18:08:49
It seems like Chrome recently had an update but it is still having issues with Shockwave loading since I am seeing it on both the blog and facebook.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/20/2013 18:09:48
I think so too - driving me crazy with all the crashing
wickedpam on 02/20/2013 18:09:48
Quote by livingonli:
It seems like Chrome recently had an update but it is still having issues with Shockwave loading since I am seeing it on both the blog and facebook.
I think so too - driving me crazy with all the crashing
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 18:52:42
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 18:52:42
I've given up on Chrome at work. I've gone back to Firefox for general browsing, but all my work is done through the Dreaded IE.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 18:57:27
Mondobubba on 02/20/2013 18:57:27
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 19:17:44
Raine on 02/20/2013 19:17:44
Well well well... THIS is interesting.
I always thought they were sketchy -- and I suspected serious fraud -- looks like the big mean gummint is actually doing something about it.
Federal and state agencies raided the Scooter Store's corporate headquarters on Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing probe into possible Medicare fraud.
Agents from federal and state agencies gathered in the parking lot in the 1600 block of Independence Drive in New Braunfels around 9 a.m.
They walked inside the smaller building on the south side of the complex and told the employees to gather their belongings and go home for the day. They were directed to leave their workspace untouched.
As hundreds of workers filed out of the building, investigators handed out small white slips of paper with the phone number 1-800-CALL FBI.
I always thought they were sketchy -- and I suspected serious fraud -- looks like the big mean gummint is actually doing something about it.
Comment by TriSec on 02/20/2013 19:21:12
TriSec on 02/20/2013 19:21:12
Heh. I've listened to a 53-year-old Count Basie album on my vintage equipment, and a Downtempo Podcast (Dave's Lounge) on my iPod in the span of 16 hours.
Comment by Raine on 02/20/2013 19:22:45
And here is something else mighty interesting:
Raine on 02/20/2013 19:22:45
Quote by Raine:
Well well well... THIS is interesting.Federal and state agencies raided the Scooter Store's corporate headquarters on Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing probe into possible Medicare fraud.
Agents from federal and state agencies gathered in the parking lot in the 1600 block of Independence Drive in New Braunfels around 9 a.m.
They walked inside the smaller building on the south side of the complex and told the employees to gather their belongings and go home for the day. They were directed to leave their workspace untouched.
As hundreds of workers filed out of the building, investigators handed out small white slips of paper with the phone number 1-800-CALL FBI.
I always thought they were sketchy -- and I suspected serious fraud -- looks like the big mean gummint is actually doing something about it.
And here is something else mighty interesting:
Take Leder, Romney’s Boca Raton host, whose Sun Capital firm bought a stake in the Scooter Store last year. The company, known for its ubiquitous television ads promising seemingly free motorized wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries, has struggled as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that governs the programs, implements rules to curb rampant billing fraud. As a CMS report noted last year, 80 percent of the claims for scooters and power wheelchairs did not meet Medicare requirements, meaning that $492 million a year is being improperly spent.
In 2007, the Scooter Store gave up $13 million in Medicare payments and paid $4 million to settle with the Justice Department over allegations that it had overbilled for its electric wheelchairs. The company, which has been bleeding money over the years as regulators moved to curb waste, still faces challenges that could make or break its business model—challenges that could be mitigated by pressure from the executive branch.
A Romney administration, for example, would have a role in the fate of a recently launched pilot program ensuring that patients see a doctor face to face to determine if a Medicare scooter is medically necessary—a program that has reportedly already reduced billings to the Scooter Store. Another challenge for the company is Section 3136 of the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act. If Romney wins and repeals significant portions of the ACA, would he retain this provision, which compels Medicare to have a competitive bidding process for motorized wheelchairs?
Leder, who has donated nearly $300,000 to Romney and other Republicans in this campaign and another $225,000 to a pro-Romney Super PAC, didn’t respond to a request for comment. Disclosures, however, suggest that pressuring the government is the only way his investment in the Scooter Store can turn a profit.
Since Leder’s firm invested in the Scooter Store, the company has spent nearly $900,000 on lobbyists to push back on these two latest challenges to its motorized-scooter empire. Lobbyists not only try to influence legislation; they are also paid to gather information. Tips about government regulatory decisions can be as good as gold to investors who can act before the information is public knowledge. But what if the company had the ultimate lobbyists: the president’s oldest son, brother and personal fundraiser?