Monthly Archives: May 2013

Professor X turned 22 months yesterday, on the 22^nd. His last magic birthday until he is 22. At which time he will be taller than me, and possibly his father (but probably not his brother) and graduating college. The time will go too fast. Heaven only knows what he will be wearing then – if I knew what the fashions of 2035 would be, I could be a billionaire.

For now, though, he has developed his first fashion sense. Unlike when he is 22, his toddler self isn’t thinking about how cool he looks, or how to get a date with the cute boy or girl across the way, or impressing a future boss. No – his toddler self has two clothing loves – Vehicles and Dinos. And this outfit is a riotous combination of both.

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Every day that isn’t a day where he gets to wear either Thomas or Lightning McQueen on his shirt is a sad day. And every night should be a night where dinosaurs roam the earth once more, at least as long as they are attached to him via his jammies.

It is both delightful and poignant that his personality is developing so quickly. I wouldn’t trade it for the anything, but he is past babyhood, running through toddlerhood, and will soon be a young man. And when he is 22, and moving off on his own, dressed in some natty shirt and the latest trend in jeans, I will undoubtedly shed a tear that a train on his shirt and dinos on his pants no longer fill him with the utmost joy and happiness.

I’m desperate to finish reading this thing. I can totally understand why the Supremes didn’t want to touch it.

Section 3401 of the PPACA alters Market Baskets and incorporates Productivity Improvements. These things have to do with some complicated accounting that the government does to determine how they pay for things. Now, I’m not an account, but the gist of this section is that the government wants to pay less for higher productivity. Hey – don’t we all?!?

Section 3402 (notable for its brevity in contrast to the verbosity of the previous section) make temporary adjustments to the calculation of Part B premiums by making the income thresholds for these premiums the same as the ones in 2010 for the period 2011-2019.

Section 3403 (amended by section 10320 to change its name) sets up an Independent Medicare Advisory Payment Board. This advisory board is supposed to help reduce per capita spending by making recommendations on how to do so. It links the ideal growth of Medicare to the growth of GDP, which is interesting. It also gives a list of procedural rules on how changes to Medicare, as advised by the Board, should be implemented.

And that’s all they got for ensuring Medicare Stability. Leeches and blood-letting anyone?