| You are a Social Liberal (60% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (18% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test |
Monday, July 03, 2006
My Politics Test
I took a politics test and this is how it turned out. I always thought of myself as a democrat on the cusp of a socialist.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Moron
mo·ron ( P ) (môrn, mr-)n.
1. A stupid person; a dolt.
Psychology. A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational education. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.
2. This guy:
Ok, if that picture doesn't say it all then allow me to elaborate. Imagine a peaceful campfire with a little drinking and a little convo. When all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, somebody decides to throw a perfectly functional leather glove into the campfire. The leather glove happened to be mine, and there was nothing wrong with it except for the fact that it had accidentally fallen on the ground and it's other half was nowhere near it. I was having a chat with a friend, probably showing him some pictures on my camera. I look up and there I see my poor glove sizzling helplessly in the coals of the fire. I didn't know how to react. I was confused at first. Who would just throw my glove into the fire for no reason? I mumbled something in deadpan manner regarding the glove belonging to me. That's when a friend reached in the fire to pull it out...albeit too late. He claimed to ask who the glove belonged to before he threw it in. I guess he wasn't patient enough for a response from everyone attending because I never heard him. It was a sad moment for me. The gloves were a Christmas gift from my mother. It was a surprise because only a few days earlier I told my mother that I needed a new pair of gloves because I had lost ANOTHER pair. When I opened the gloves on Christmas morning I vowed to never lose them. This was the pair of gloves I was bound to keep...forever. Obviously, that plan fell to shit. So here I sit gloveless and still wondering what the point of throwing an innocent leather glove into a fire would be. Pyromania perhaps? Probably. He burnt a plastic gun earlier that night. I should have seen it coming. Maybe I'm the moron. Nah...he definitely is.
By the way, here is a picture from the scene of the crime:
1. A stupid person; a dolt.
Psychology. A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational education. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.
2. This guy:
Ok, if that picture doesn't say it all then allow me to elaborate. Imagine a peaceful campfire with a little drinking and a little convo. When all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, somebody decides to throw a perfectly functional leather glove into the campfire. The leather glove happened to be mine, and there was nothing wrong with it except for the fact that it had accidentally fallen on the ground and it's other half was nowhere near it. I was having a chat with a friend, probably showing him some pictures on my camera. I look up and there I see my poor glove sizzling helplessly in the coals of the fire. I didn't know how to react. I was confused at first. Who would just throw my glove into the fire for no reason? I mumbled something in deadpan manner regarding the glove belonging to me. That's when a friend reached in the fire to pull it out...albeit too late. He claimed to ask who the glove belonged to before he threw it in. I guess he wasn't patient enough for a response from everyone attending because I never heard him. It was a sad moment for me. The gloves were a Christmas gift from my mother. It was a surprise because only a few days earlier I told my mother that I needed a new pair of gloves because I had lost ANOTHER pair. When I opened the gloves on Christmas morning I vowed to never lose them. This was the pair of gloves I was bound to keep...forever. Obviously, that plan fell to shit. So here I sit gloveless and still wondering what the point of throwing an innocent leather glove into a fire would be. Pyromania perhaps? Probably. He burnt a plastic gun earlier that night. I should have seen it coming. Maybe I'm the moron. Nah...he definitely is.
By the way, here is a picture from the scene of the crime:
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Jared Leto is "BIGGER"
So I was reading IMDB today and I came across an article stating that Jared Leto (Requiem For a Dream, My So Called Life, Panic Room) had gained 50 pounds. The article didn't say whether it was muscle or fat. Though I would have been more surprised had it been 50 pounds of muscle (that's a lot of muscle folks...and I mean A LOT), I was still rather shocked to discover that it was 50 pounds of fat. Why are actors doing this to themselves? Is it really worth the risk to their health? George Clooney did it and now he is having health problems because of it (well, and an Oscar) and Matt Damon did it for Courage Under Fire and he's still suffering the health problems (of course he LOST weight for that role). There is nothing wrong with putting on a little weight...but to put it on and drop it off at the rate these actors have to do it is detrimental to their health. Apparently Leto is doing it for Chapter 27 where he plays John Lennon's assassin, Mark David Chapman. Here are a couple of websites where you can check out the pictures:
JaredPix
JaredPix2
*Note: I don't necessarily agree with the Jared Leto is "FAT" comments because I think it's kind of rude and he's not really that big...but I thought people would just want to see the pictures.
P.S. There are talks of him playing a "hunk" role on Desperate Housewives. Apparently another fling for Eva Longoria. Keep your eyes peeled.
JaredPix
JaredPix2
*Note: I don't necessarily agree with the Jared Leto is "FAT" comments because I think it's kind of rude and he's not really that big...but I thought people would just want to see the pictures.
P.S. There are talks of him playing a "hunk" role on Desperate Housewives. Apparently another fling for Eva Longoria. Keep your eyes peeled.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Top 10 Films of 2005
Granted, I didn't see EVERY film last year. Who did? But I saw most of them. As for Oscar nominated films, I still haven't seen Squid and the Whale, Memoirs of a Geisha, Mrs. Henderson Presents, Howls Moving Castle (animated film), The New World (Cinematography), all of the Short films, the documentary features (except March of the Penguins, of course) and all the foreign language films. Everything else nominated, I've seen. I now present you with my list of the top films of 2005:
10. *TIE* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. I was so invigorated watching both of these films. Many feel that Sith did not live up to expectations but I was thoroughly impressed and satisfied. The political parallels that the whole Star Wars franchise, especially recent installments, presents us with are fascinating. Take the Emperor for example. It's interesting to note that his rise to power was very similar to that of Adolph Hitler and his establishment of the Third Reich. Not to mention the performance by Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious (the emperor) was astounding. He made me want to join the dark side! This is all coming from someone who ISN'T a Star Wars geek, by the way. I just simply enjoyed this film. Harry Potter was just fun and exciting. I never wanted it to end. That's the sign of an entertaining film!
9. Walk the Line There is only one Johnny Cash. Well, there was until I saw Joaquin Phoenix play him. I liked Ray last year. It wasn't one of my favorites. But it was good. Jamie Foxx was good in the film. A little overrated, but good. Joaquin Phoenix is great. As is his little spice in life, Reese Witherspoon, as June Carter (Cash). I was tentative going into this film, not very familiar with Johnny Cash and not very interested either. When I walked out of the film I was still uninterested in Johnny Cash, but I had just seen some amazing performances and a very good story to boot. The performances, however, are what put this film above the rest.
8. Batman Begins Loved this movie! The whole package here is impressive. Great directing, cinematography, acting (nix Katie Holmes), screenplay, EVERYTHING! Had this not been a blockbuster action film about a super hero it would be up for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It's a shame they never honor films like this. As for the films success, Roger Ebert says it best when he explains that action heros are people with problems and issues just like everyone else. When those problems and issues are exploited and analyzed, it makes the film a success. Just like Spiderman and X-men, this is a film that lives up to that success.
7. Brokeback Mountain Good film. Do I understand all the hype surrounding it? No, not really. It's an interesting film and it moves at the pace of a snail who hasn't slept in a week, but it's a good film. After saying all of that, I do have to admit that there is something "haunting" about the film. Not sad really, or tragic, but haunting. There's something about it that just won't go away. I guess that is what makes it such a good film. It has this enigmatic effect on people. You walk out thinking, "what the hell was that all about and why can't I stop thinking about it?" There are many films out there about love denied, and many films out there about gay people. There are even many films out there about gay people whose love is denied. But I think this is the first one I have ever seen that does it on such a profound and epic level. Beautiful cinematography.
6. Crash I have had two people in the last week tell me they didn't like this movie because they had to think. I don't really understand this because this film seemed pretty straight forward to me. Go see Syriana if you really want to know what it's like to think in the movie theatre. Actually, I take that back, don't see Syriana...it's horrible. The racial struggles and parallels in this film (back to Crash) were clever and intriguing. It wasn't quite satire, but might it be considered a reality satire? Sorta like reality TV meets satirical prose? Crash was intelligent and compelling. Flawed? Perhaps a little. But you can find flaws in every film on this list.
5. Capote Like Walk the Line this is a film that thrives on its performances, especially that of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. We've all heard the well deserved hype that says how phenomenal he is as Truman Capote, the flamboyant writer of "In Cold Blood". Watch the scene wear he talks about how he is made fun of because of the way he talks. Notice his eyes in the scene. That is brilliant acting. Watch the scene wear he has to witness the execution of his "friend". Notice his eyes in the scene. That is brilliant acting. This is also a good script. It is one that takes Capote's novel and flips it on it's end and analyzes it from a whole different view point. That's clever writing. I have never been a fan of Phillip Seymour Hoffman but he deserves all the praise he receives for this role...plus more.
4. History Of Violence. I'm a sucker for violence. I love horror movies and the stimulant it provides me when I see a dumb blonde chased down with a chainsaw. That may sound sick, but I'm not alone...if I were, Hollywood wouldn't consider horror movies a "sure bet", meaning there is not a risk in making them because they will turn a profit because people love them and the stimulant they provide. History of Violence is NOT a horror movie...not in a literal sense anyways. It is, however, horrifying. Watch the film and take the time to analyze the opening sequence where two criminals are leaving a hotel. Hear the music and watch the careful direction and say to yourself...this is what makes a great film. Do that 20 times and then you will understand my concept of a "great film". Perhaps we are on the same page. If not, then maybe doing this will enlighten you. This movie takes risks and exposes our darker fears as mere tips of the iceberg. It makes us ask whether we really know someone or not. Is it possible that my best friend is a serial killer. This film seems to think so.
3. Munich This movie was pure entertainment at it's best. A person once asked me if films have to entertain you to be successful. My response was of course they do. All of the films on this list were entertaining to me on some level. Some of them may have been a little more cerebral than others. I wouldn't put "Brokeback Mountain" and "Harry Potter", for instance, in the same basket as being equally intellectually fulfilling. But if a film doesn't entertain me on some level then I can't enjoy it. I think many people confuse entertainment with education. They CAN be one in the same, believe it or not. You can have fun learning. It IS possible. That is the magic of Steven Spielberg. He can entertain you with his unique and amazing direction but then the next minute you realize that you just learned something. Steven Spielberg has mastered the technique of teaching and entertaining without anyone even noticing. Munich is full proof of that. This was one of the most underrated films of the year. It deserved more praise for it's acting also.
2. King Kong Epic Peter Jackson. You fall in love with a monkey you're meant to hate. I watched the 1933 version recently and it is revelatory. You realize how much has changed in our society and in film since the original film was released. It is sort of like comparing something by Bach in the Baroque period to something by Brahms in the Romantic period. The piece by both Bach and Brahms were entertaining, especially during their time, but the piece by Bach is more technical and concrete, somewhat cold and experimental; where as the piece by Brahms is perfected, passionate and free spirited (yet it is also an extension of the influence by the Bach piece). That may be a flawed analogy but it helps to illustrate my point. King Kong is 100% passion.
And the number one film of the year...drum roll please:
1. Match Point Talk about intellectually stimulating. Not once did this film underestimate me as a filmgoer. I was entertained, aroused, and completely immersed into this film. There are twists and turns you can never foresee. What makes this the best film of the year is it's script by Woody Allen. Just see this movie and you'll know why it's number one. It is, quite simply, phenomenal.
Honorable Mentions: Junebug, Hustle and Flow, Wallace and Gromit, War of the Worlds
Worst Films of the Year:
3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
1. Syriana
10. *TIE* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. I was so invigorated watching both of these films. Many feel that Sith did not live up to expectations but I was thoroughly impressed and satisfied. The political parallels that the whole Star Wars franchise, especially recent installments, presents us with are fascinating. Take the Emperor for example. It's interesting to note that his rise to power was very similar to that of Adolph Hitler and his establishment of the Third Reich. Not to mention the performance by Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious (the emperor) was astounding. He made me want to join the dark side! This is all coming from someone who ISN'T a Star Wars geek, by the way. I just simply enjoyed this film. Harry Potter was just fun and exciting. I never wanted it to end. That's the sign of an entertaining film!
9. Walk the Line There is only one Johnny Cash. Well, there was until I saw Joaquin Phoenix play him. I liked Ray last year. It wasn't one of my favorites. But it was good. Jamie Foxx was good in the film. A little overrated, but good. Joaquin Phoenix is great. As is his little spice in life, Reese Witherspoon, as June Carter (Cash). I was tentative going into this film, not very familiar with Johnny Cash and not very interested either. When I walked out of the film I was still uninterested in Johnny Cash, but I had just seen some amazing performances and a very good story to boot. The performances, however, are what put this film above the rest.
8. Batman Begins Loved this movie! The whole package here is impressive. Great directing, cinematography, acting (nix Katie Holmes), screenplay, EVERYTHING! Had this not been a blockbuster action film about a super hero it would be up for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It's a shame they never honor films like this. As for the films success, Roger Ebert says it best when he explains that action heros are people with problems and issues just like everyone else. When those problems and issues are exploited and analyzed, it makes the film a success. Just like Spiderman and X-men, this is a film that lives up to that success.
7. Brokeback Mountain Good film. Do I understand all the hype surrounding it? No, not really. It's an interesting film and it moves at the pace of a snail who hasn't slept in a week, but it's a good film. After saying all of that, I do have to admit that there is something "haunting" about the film. Not sad really, or tragic, but haunting. There's something about it that just won't go away. I guess that is what makes it such a good film. It has this enigmatic effect on people. You walk out thinking, "what the hell was that all about and why can't I stop thinking about it?" There are many films out there about love denied, and many films out there about gay people. There are even many films out there about gay people whose love is denied. But I think this is the first one I have ever seen that does it on such a profound and epic level. Beautiful cinematography.
6. Crash I have had two people in the last week tell me they didn't like this movie because they had to think. I don't really understand this because this film seemed pretty straight forward to me. Go see Syriana if you really want to know what it's like to think in the movie theatre. Actually, I take that back, don't see Syriana...it's horrible. The racial struggles and parallels in this film (back to Crash) were clever and intriguing. It wasn't quite satire, but might it be considered a reality satire? Sorta like reality TV meets satirical prose? Crash was intelligent and compelling. Flawed? Perhaps a little. But you can find flaws in every film on this list.
5. Capote Like Walk the Line this is a film that thrives on its performances, especially that of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. We've all heard the well deserved hype that says how phenomenal he is as Truman Capote, the flamboyant writer of "In Cold Blood". Watch the scene wear he talks about how he is made fun of because of the way he talks. Notice his eyes in the scene. That is brilliant acting. Watch the scene wear he has to witness the execution of his "friend". Notice his eyes in the scene. That is brilliant acting. This is also a good script. It is one that takes Capote's novel and flips it on it's end and analyzes it from a whole different view point. That's clever writing. I have never been a fan of Phillip Seymour Hoffman but he deserves all the praise he receives for this role...plus more.
4. History Of Violence. I'm a sucker for violence. I love horror movies and the stimulant it provides me when I see a dumb blonde chased down with a chainsaw. That may sound sick, but I'm not alone...if I were, Hollywood wouldn't consider horror movies a "sure bet", meaning there is not a risk in making them because they will turn a profit because people love them and the stimulant they provide. History of Violence is NOT a horror movie...not in a literal sense anyways. It is, however, horrifying. Watch the film and take the time to analyze the opening sequence where two criminals are leaving a hotel. Hear the music and watch the careful direction and say to yourself...this is what makes a great film. Do that 20 times and then you will understand my concept of a "great film". Perhaps we are on the same page. If not, then maybe doing this will enlighten you. This movie takes risks and exposes our darker fears as mere tips of the iceberg. It makes us ask whether we really know someone or not. Is it possible that my best friend is a serial killer. This film seems to think so.
3. Munich This movie was pure entertainment at it's best. A person once asked me if films have to entertain you to be successful. My response was of course they do. All of the films on this list were entertaining to me on some level. Some of them may have been a little more cerebral than others. I wouldn't put "Brokeback Mountain" and "Harry Potter", for instance, in the same basket as being equally intellectually fulfilling. But if a film doesn't entertain me on some level then I can't enjoy it. I think many people confuse entertainment with education. They CAN be one in the same, believe it or not. You can have fun learning. It IS possible. That is the magic of Steven Spielberg. He can entertain you with his unique and amazing direction but then the next minute you realize that you just learned something. Steven Spielberg has mastered the technique of teaching and entertaining without anyone even noticing. Munich is full proof of that. This was one of the most underrated films of the year. It deserved more praise for it's acting also.
2. King Kong Epic Peter Jackson. You fall in love with a monkey you're meant to hate. I watched the 1933 version recently and it is revelatory. You realize how much has changed in our society and in film since the original film was released. It is sort of like comparing something by Bach in the Baroque period to something by Brahms in the Romantic period. The piece by both Bach and Brahms were entertaining, especially during their time, but the piece by Bach is more technical and concrete, somewhat cold and experimental; where as the piece by Brahms is perfected, passionate and free spirited (yet it is also an extension of the influence by the Bach piece). That may be a flawed analogy but it helps to illustrate my point. King Kong is 100% passion.
And the number one film of the year...drum roll please:
1. Match Point Talk about intellectually stimulating. Not once did this film underestimate me as a filmgoer. I was entertained, aroused, and completely immersed into this film. There are twists and turns you can never foresee. What makes this the best film of the year is it's script by Woody Allen. Just see this movie and you'll know why it's number one. It is, quite simply, phenomenal.
Honorable Mentions: Junebug, Hustle and Flow, Wallace and Gromit, War of the Worlds
Worst Films of the Year:
3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
1. Syriana
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Insurance Companies...GRRR
First of all, this is just weird:
http://www.hollywoodrag.com/index.php?/weblog/
carrot_top_gets_buff/
Ok, moving on:
Last year around this time I purchased dental insurance for myself. The guy who sold it to me tried to talk me out of it and said that it might cost me less to just pay to have my teeth cleaned than it would be to pay for insurance to cover it. I rationalized insurance because I have a lot of problems with my teeth. I have had many cavities and many fillings. YES I BRUSH MY TEETH!! Some people have more vulnerable teeth than others! Regardless, I should have listened to the guy because this stupid dental insurance has been nothing but a nightmare!
Imagine a sunny day in March. I get on the internet to find a dentist who is contracting with my new and "awesome" dental plan. I find five names on the internet within a 50 mile radius that are contracting dentists with my insurance company. YAY! To my delight, one of them happens to be 25 minutes away in Celina, OH. I set an appointment with the dentist and go there to get my teeth cleaned and to get xrays on my mouth. All of this was covered by my new and "awesome" dental insurance. I leave the dentist with a new clean set of teeth and a bright smile on my face. Little did I know that the smile was all in VAIN!!
About a month or so later I received a letter in the mail stating that the insurance was not paying for the bill and I was responsible for incurring the charges. I thought this was strange and it angered me a little. But I figured there must be some mistake because my new insurance policy was "awesome". I called the dentist office to see what the problem was and the very polite and friendly receptionist informed me that the insurance company was not covering the charges. She said they take Unicare but Unicare was only going to pay about 6 dollars of my $110 bill. I hung up with her and immediately called Unicare (that's the name of the insurance company) to see what the deal was. I called them and they told me that the dentist was a contracting dentist and they would sort everything out.
About 4 months later I called the dentist to set another appointment, figuring that everything from the prior appointment had been worked out. When I called, the receptionist informed me that she has tried to get the insurance company to pay and has sat through many frustrating phone calls with them and they told her that I was responsible for the charges. She said that they are NOT contracting dentists with Unicare. I told her that their name was on the Unicare website as a contracting dentist but she said that it shouldn't be. Well, this made me very irate. She also told me that she sent some information in the mail for me recently and that I should receive it shortly. When I received the information the receptionist wrote this:
"Travis I've spoken to your insurance company several times. I'm unable to get them to pay anymore towards your account. As the insured you are responsible for the balance which your insurance does not cover. I've enclosed a copy of the claim form and the EOB (Explanation of benefits)".
I called Unicare again to work out this problem. I explained the issue to the lady at the insurance company and she told me that I was not to find contracting dentists on the internet but I was to call them to find out. WHAT!?? This pissed me off. That is when I went to the insurance agent that sold me the insurance only to find out that he no longer works for the agency. So a very nice lady was gracious enough to help me with my problem.
I explained everything to the lady and she called the insurance agency. I was very concerned to know how I was supposed to know that I was supposed to call Unicare to find contracting dentists? I just assumed that if they were on the website then they were contracting. The lady (we'll call her Jane) talked to one of the idiot monkeys at Unicare and told her my concerns. This is when they magically figured out that, oh, Dr. Ramsey (the dentist I went to) is no longer a contracting dentist and that they made a mistake and they would cover the charges. They said that his name should no longer be on the website and they would remove it immediately. So, unlike what the lady I talked to at Unicare said, the dentists on the website are contracting dentists. So what was the lady I spoke with talking about??? And why couldn't they have figured this out when I called or when the receptionist at Dr. Ramsey called?? This should have been my first clue to immediately cancel my policy with Unicare. Well, unfortunately, I didn't. I figured that I wanted to at least get my money's worth out of the insurance before I cancelled it. There were 4 other dentists to choose from on the website within a 50 mile radius. I could just pick from one of them. HA! This story has just begun.
So I figured I would let the whole Dr. Ramsey thing blow over and let the insurance company pay for my bill before I would go ahead and set up another appointment with one of the other dentists. So, a few days ago (about 4 months after the last issue was settled) I went to the Unicare website to find a dentist. This time I would make sure that the dentist was indeed a contracting dentist by asking the dental office if they were CONTRACTING dentists with Unicare and also by calling Unicare and asking them. The first thing that caught my attention was that Dr. Ramsey's name was STILL on the website as a contracting dentist! I called Dr. Ramsey and asked them about it thinking that maybe they had decided to sign on with Unicare. The nice receptionist told me that they had not signed on with them and they have told Unicare to take their name of the site several times. This was ridiculous! Then I decided to try the other 4 doctors. One of the doctors was located in Muncie. That's only about 40 minutes away so I called him. They also told me that they are NOT contracting dentists with Unicare. Then why is their name on the website next to Dr. Ramsey who is also NOT a contracting dentist?? This was frustrating. But there were still 3 to choose from. Ok, dentist 3...number no longer in service. Um, ok. Dentist 2...number no longer in service. Oh my God. Last dentist...number plays random rock music and nothing else. I figured it might be a number to a drug dealer. You call and they call you back to see what you want to order...Green or White T-shirts. So NONE, I repeat NONE, of the dentists on the website were contracting or even available.
So I called Unicare (again) and talked to one of their monkeys and the lady on the other end brought up her information to give me the names of contracting dentists in my area within a 50 mile radius. She proceeded to give me the same names of the same 5 dentists I just saw on their website. NO, I said. Dr. Ramsey is not contracting and neither is Dr. Kloer (the second dentist I talked to). The other three numbers didn't even work. She told me that if they were on the website then they were DEFINITELY contracting. I told her that she is an idiot and she's not listening. I told her that I had called the dentist offices and they told me they were definitely not contracting. I also told her that about the issues I had with one of them in the past. She puts me on hold. Apparently while I was on hold she went to her magic file because when she came back she said that I was correct and those two dentist were NO LONGER contracting with them. DUH! They just hadn't updated their information yet. How long does it take to update information!?? I had informed them of an error 4 months ago and it still hadn't changed. This was ridiculous. I looked on the internet to see if there were alternate numbers to the dentists I couldn't get a hold of. I found a couple of numbers. I tried one and got an answering machine. I tried the next one and I got a hold of an old man (sounded about 85) at home who claimed to be the dentist but didn't know the difference between a zip code and an area code...either he had alzheimers or he had just lost his mind. Either way I didn't want that man working on my teeth. Ok, back to the insurance agency.
When I got back to the insurance agency the lady who helped me the first time was still there. Great. I sat down and explained my situation and she tried her best to work something out for me. She called the insurance agency and talked to them and they gave her the same run around they gave me. Finally they came up with a dentist that I could go to...65 miles away!! I have to drive 65 miles to go to a dentist who is contracting with Unicare!! That is unacceptable. I told her that the reason I signed on for the insurance was because there was supposedly 5 dentist within a 50 mile radius. She sympathized with me but there really wasn't much else she could do.
So, here I sit, with a broken tooth (yes, I broke a filling in October eating Halloween candy) and dirty teeth. I just want to get a cleaning with a contracting dentist and get my tooth fixed. But is driving 65 miles even worth it?? It's just all very frustrating and I do plan on reporting this with the Better Business Bureau and writing to Michael Moore. Granted, this isn't as huge as an insurance company screwing somebody over with cancer and leaving them with a 50,000 dollar bill because they forgot to put their b-day on the registration form. But it's still annoying. Needless to say, do NOT get insurance through Unicare. BARF!
http://www.hollywoodrag.com/index.php?/weblog/
carrot_top_gets_buff/
Ok, moving on:
Last year around this time I purchased dental insurance for myself. The guy who sold it to me tried to talk me out of it and said that it might cost me less to just pay to have my teeth cleaned than it would be to pay for insurance to cover it. I rationalized insurance because I have a lot of problems with my teeth. I have had many cavities and many fillings. YES I BRUSH MY TEETH!! Some people have more vulnerable teeth than others! Regardless, I should have listened to the guy because this stupid dental insurance has been nothing but a nightmare!
Imagine a sunny day in March. I get on the internet to find a dentist who is contracting with my new and "awesome" dental plan. I find five names on the internet within a 50 mile radius that are contracting dentists with my insurance company. YAY! To my delight, one of them happens to be 25 minutes away in Celina, OH. I set an appointment with the dentist and go there to get my teeth cleaned and to get xrays on my mouth. All of this was covered by my new and "awesome" dental insurance. I leave the dentist with a new clean set of teeth and a bright smile on my face. Little did I know that the smile was all in VAIN!!
About a month or so later I received a letter in the mail stating that the insurance was not paying for the bill and I was responsible for incurring the charges. I thought this was strange and it angered me a little. But I figured there must be some mistake because my new insurance policy was "awesome". I called the dentist office to see what the problem was and the very polite and friendly receptionist informed me that the insurance company was not covering the charges. She said they take Unicare but Unicare was only going to pay about 6 dollars of my $110 bill. I hung up with her and immediately called Unicare (that's the name of the insurance company) to see what the deal was. I called them and they told me that the dentist was a contracting dentist and they would sort everything out.
About 4 months later I called the dentist to set another appointment, figuring that everything from the prior appointment had been worked out. When I called, the receptionist informed me that she has tried to get the insurance company to pay and has sat through many frustrating phone calls with them and they told her that I was responsible for the charges. She said that they are NOT contracting dentists with Unicare. I told her that their name was on the Unicare website as a contracting dentist but she said that it shouldn't be. Well, this made me very irate. She also told me that she sent some information in the mail for me recently and that I should receive it shortly. When I received the information the receptionist wrote this:
"Travis I've spoken to your insurance company several times. I'm unable to get them to pay anymore towards your account. As the insured you are responsible for the balance which your insurance does not cover. I've enclosed a copy of the claim form and the EOB (Explanation of benefits)".
I called Unicare again to work out this problem. I explained the issue to the lady at the insurance company and she told me that I was not to find contracting dentists on the internet but I was to call them to find out. WHAT!?? This pissed me off. That is when I went to the insurance agent that sold me the insurance only to find out that he no longer works for the agency. So a very nice lady was gracious enough to help me with my problem.
I explained everything to the lady and she called the insurance agency. I was very concerned to know how I was supposed to know that I was supposed to call Unicare to find contracting dentists? I just assumed that if they were on the website then they were contracting. The lady (we'll call her Jane) talked to one of the idiot monkeys at Unicare and told her my concerns. This is when they magically figured out that, oh, Dr. Ramsey (the dentist I went to) is no longer a contracting dentist and that they made a mistake and they would cover the charges. They said that his name should no longer be on the website and they would remove it immediately. So, unlike what the lady I talked to at Unicare said, the dentists on the website are contracting dentists. So what was the lady I spoke with talking about??? And why couldn't they have figured this out when I called or when the receptionist at Dr. Ramsey called?? This should have been my first clue to immediately cancel my policy with Unicare. Well, unfortunately, I didn't. I figured that I wanted to at least get my money's worth out of the insurance before I cancelled it. There were 4 other dentists to choose from on the website within a 50 mile radius. I could just pick from one of them. HA! This story has just begun.
So I figured I would let the whole Dr. Ramsey thing blow over and let the insurance company pay for my bill before I would go ahead and set up another appointment with one of the other dentists. So, a few days ago (about 4 months after the last issue was settled) I went to the Unicare website to find a dentist. This time I would make sure that the dentist was indeed a contracting dentist by asking the dental office if they were CONTRACTING dentists with Unicare and also by calling Unicare and asking them. The first thing that caught my attention was that Dr. Ramsey's name was STILL on the website as a contracting dentist! I called Dr. Ramsey and asked them about it thinking that maybe they had decided to sign on with Unicare. The nice receptionist told me that they had not signed on with them and they have told Unicare to take their name of the site several times. This was ridiculous! Then I decided to try the other 4 doctors. One of the doctors was located in Muncie. That's only about 40 minutes away so I called him. They also told me that they are NOT contracting dentists with Unicare. Then why is their name on the website next to Dr. Ramsey who is also NOT a contracting dentist?? This was frustrating. But there were still 3 to choose from. Ok, dentist 3...number no longer in service. Um, ok. Dentist 2...number no longer in service. Oh my God. Last dentist...number plays random rock music and nothing else. I figured it might be a number to a drug dealer. You call and they call you back to see what you want to order...Green or White T-shirts. So NONE, I repeat NONE, of the dentists on the website were contracting or even available.
So I called Unicare (again) and talked to one of their monkeys and the lady on the other end brought up her information to give me the names of contracting dentists in my area within a 50 mile radius. She proceeded to give me the same names of the same 5 dentists I just saw on their website. NO, I said. Dr. Ramsey is not contracting and neither is Dr. Kloer (the second dentist I talked to). The other three numbers didn't even work. She told me that if they were on the website then they were DEFINITELY contracting. I told her that she is an idiot and she's not listening. I told her that I had called the dentist offices and they told me they were definitely not contracting. I also told her that about the issues I had with one of them in the past. She puts me on hold. Apparently while I was on hold she went to her magic file because when she came back she said that I was correct and those two dentist were NO LONGER contracting with them. DUH! They just hadn't updated their information yet. How long does it take to update information!?? I had informed them of an error 4 months ago and it still hadn't changed. This was ridiculous. I looked on the internet to see if there were alternate numbers to the dentists I couldn't get a hold of. I found a couple of numbers. I tried one and got an answering machine. I tried the next one and I got a hold of an old man (sounded about 85) at home who claimed to be the dentist but didn't know the difference between a zip code and an area code...either he had alzheimers or he had just lost his mind. Either way I didn't want that man working on my teeth. Ok, back to the insurance agency.
When I got back to the insurance agency the lady who helped me the first time was still there. Great. I sat down and explained my situation and she tried her best to work something out for me. She called the insurance agency and talked to them and they gave her the same run around they gave me. Finally they came up with a dentist that I could go to...65 miles away!! I have to drive 65 miles to go to a dentist who is contracting with Unicare!! That is unacceptable. I told her that the reason I signed on for the insurance was because there was supposedly 5 dentist within a 50 mile radius. She sympathized with me but there really wasn't much else she could do.
So, here I sit, with a broken tooth (yes, I broke a filling in October eating Halloween candy) and dirty teeth. I just want to get a cleaning with a contracting dentist and get my tooth fixed. But is driving 65 miles even worth it?? It's just all very frustrating and I do plan on reporting this with the Better Business Bureau and writing to Michael Moore. Granted, this isn't as huge as an insurance company screwing somebody over with cancer and leaving them with a 50,000 dollar bill because they forgot to put their b-day on the registration form. But it's still annoying. Needless to say, do NOT get insurance through Unicare. BARF!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
I'm BAAAAAAAAACK
Back with a vengeance, so to speak. No, but seriously...where have I been? Wouldn't you like to know! Actually, I've been doing a whole lotta nothin. SHOCK! I am trying to grow my hair out...which I hate. I'm going to let it go another few days and if it doesn't get any better then it's gone. It doesn't help that I have to shower in liquid metal. My hair doesn't really like that. I essentially have to use an entire bottle of conditioner just so my hair doesn't dry out and look like something from a Rob Zombie flick. Speaking of, have you seen "Devil's Rejects"? What a wretched movie that was.
I will be posting within the next couple of weeks my favorite films of 2005. I still have to see a couple and then I will make my decisions. Then I will be posting my annual oscar predictions and review. I cannot wait for the oscars! It's my super bowl.
Travis On TV:
I've been watching Desperate Housewives, Lost, American Idol, and Prison Break (well, I will be when it restarts). I never use to watch TV but there is not much else to do around here.
*Possible Spoilers*
Desperate Housewives: This show certainly has it's ups and downs this season. I missed the first few episodes but I was caught up so that I could start watching again and not have to wait for its release on DVD. I think the shows problem right now is it's superfluously lame subplots that only last an episode. There are just too many of them. Focus more on the mystery through line that is lying below the surface. That is what made the first season so good.
Lost: This show also has it's ups and downs. I find myself bored during some episodes. BORED!! Bored watching LOST!! There is just way to much going on and there are far too many characters. They need to kill off about 10 people so we can all just focus on the important ones. I also don't like that Dominique Monaghan (sp?) has turned "bad". And can somebody PLEASE kill Michelle Rodriguez's character?? PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!?
American Idol: American Idol is the equivalent to crank in my book. It's complete and utter trash but it's also IRRESISTIBLE.
Prison Break: What was this show about again? Oh yeah, a prison break. Duh. I almost forgot seeing how FOX hasn't had an episode in months!! The show was good back in the fall...but it wasn't great. Let's hope that the hiatus and the shows success motivate the writers to come up with some exciting twists and turns! Yeah baby!
I will be posting within the next couple of weeks my favorite films of 2005. I still have to see a couple and then I will make my decisions. Then I will be posting my annual oscar predictions and review. I cannot wait for the oscars! It's my super bowl.
Travis On TV:
I've been watching Desperate Housewives, Lost, American Idol, and Prison Break (well, I will be when it restarts). I never use to watch TV but there is not much else to do around here.
*Possible Spoilers*
Desperate Housewives: This show certainly has it's ups and downs this season. I missed the first few episodes but I was caught up so that I could start watching again and not have to wait for its release on DVD. I think the shows problem right now is it's superfluously lame subplots that only last an episode. There are just too many of them. Focus more on the mystery through line that is lying below the surface. That is what made the first season so good.
Lost: This show also has it's ups and downs. I find myself bored during some episodes. BORED!! Bored watching LOST!! There is just way to much going on and there are far too many characters. They need to kill off about 10 people so we can all just focus on the important ones. I also don't like that Dominique Monaghan (sp?) has turned "bad". And can somebody PLEASE kill Michelle Rodriguez's character?? PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!?
American Idol: American Idol is the equivalent to crank in my book. It's complete and utter trash but it's also IRRESISTIBLE.
Prison Break: What was this show about again? Oh yeah, a prison break. Duh. I almost forgot seeing how FOX hasn't had an episode in months!! The show was good back in the fall...but it wasn't great. Let's hope that the hiatus and the shows success motivate the writers to come up with some exciting twists and turns! Yeah baby!
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