Re: WBUP - "Business as usual" is what got them to the state they're in now. "Business as usual" is what eventually caused long-time employees who were holding the place together to jump ship, mostly due to low pay, no raises for years, and no end in sight for either one of those situations, and an overwhelming workload because the entire company is horribly understaffed. Now it's being run locally by a bunch of rookies who are trying to figure it out as they go, with hiring practices that are basically "you have a pulse? You're hired." Current ownership would cry poverty when asked to fix something or give someone a raise, yet managed to put together $90k to win a radio license at an FCC auction for the Houghton area. The last thing WBUP needs is "Business as usual." They need a complete overhaul with competent people in upper management if they hope to compete with the other stations. I wish them the best. I really do. I hope MMM is up to the challenge of turning the market's 2nd oldest TV station (almost 30 years) around into something.
To understand what is happening with regards to the doctors and overall employment issues as well as political issues mentioned and overall societal, economic, and geopolitical issues, several books will give a great deal of insight.
1) The Fourth Turning by Strauss & Howe
2) Principles for Dealing with The Changing World Order by Ray Dalio
3) The Crash Course by Chris Martenson
4) The Five Stages of Collapse by Dmitri Orlov
The "fun" is only starting. This article gives some hint as to the momentum that is starting.
P.S. It isn't anthropogenic climate change. That's a red herring. I have to laugh when I see commercials where Apple executives are telling Mother Nature of their plans to remove all carbon from the atmosphere by such-and-such date. Really? Pray tell, what are all the plants going to utilize for photosynthesis? Then there's the talk about greenhouse gases where they conveniently seem to forget about water vapor, one of the most ubiquitous greenhouse gases. The underwater volcanic explosion in Tonga put an enormous amount of water vapor into the atmosphere that will take years to clear. Pollution is definitely a problem but carbon dioxide is not. Plant life (and in turn animal life) has thrived on the planet during the times of highest carbon dioxide. Sun cycles and magnetic pole movement are a definite problem but I don't see mankind as having any solutions to controlling volcanic explosions, sun cycles, and magnetic pole migration. We can control debt, however, but seem largely uninterested in doing so. Let the good times roll until ...
Regarding getting into your doctor--I'd had the same problem, and then I was fortunate to find a resolution. This is going to sound like an advertisement, lol, but please believe me when I say it is not. I'm just a very happy and relieved patient. About a year ago I was in Mexico, and came down with some kind of infection in my uvula and back of my throat. I could barely even drink water, it was excruciating. I saw two doctors there, but nothing helped, and I cut my vacation short to come home.
Once home I tried getting in to see my doctor at the BIG practice here in town, you know what I mean. Good doctors, but the system was such that I couldn't get in to see them, no matter how much agony I was in. I ended up going to a walk-in clinic; they did their best, but it was never diagnosed. Eventually, it just went away.
So I was feeling pretty sour about my health care when I happened to meet Dr. Ryan Brang at a Chamber of Commerce event. About a year ago, he and his wife Dr. Katie Brang were unhappy working in the typical system, and started this practice of direct patient care. They do not take insurance; I pay $95 a month, and that makes me a "member" of their practice, kind of like having a gym membership. You can get appointments often the next day, or even same day if you're in urgent need, and appointments are included in the membership. And in some cases, they will make house calls (!) within 10 miles of Marquette. And you can text them with questions, and they'll respond quickly. You don't want to abuse this ability of course, but it's good to have when you need it. Oh, and they can get most medications at a price that's a fraction of what I used to pay at a pharmacy.
Their goal is to make medicine more like what it used to be, where you really know your doctor. And they're dedicated to fostering community. For example, there's a book group that meets in their office every Wednesday, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Next month, the book is "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown. The focus of the group is sort of on growing community, peace of mind, real happiness, etc.
If you have any doubts, ask to speak to their other patients. Every one that I know is extremely happy with them. I hope this note doesn't violate your standards, Brian, but your comment about getting in to see your doctor made me think you and your readers might appreciate this.
...now if I could just get in to see my dentist, oy...
Re: WBUP - "Business as usual" is what got them to the state they're in now. "Business as usual" is what eventually caused long-time employees who were holding the place together to jump ship, mostly due to low pay, no raises for years, and no end in sight for either one of those situations, and an overwhelming workload because the entire company is horribly understaffed. Now it's being run locally by a bunch of rookies who are trying to figure it out as they go, with hiring practices that are basically "you have a pulse? You're hired." Current ownership would cry poverty when asked to fix something or give someone a raise, yet managed to put together $90k to win a radio license at an FCC auction for the Houghton area. The last thing WBUP needs is "Business as usual." They need a complete overhaul with competent people in upper management if they hope to compete with the other stations. I wish them the best. I really do. I hope MMM is up to the challenge of turning the market's 2nd oldest TV station (almost 30 years) around into something.
To understand what is happening with regards to the doctors and overall employment issues as well as political issues mentioned and overall societal, economic, and geopolitical issues, several books will give a great deal of insight.
1) The Fourth Turning by Strauss & Howe
2) Principles for Dealing with The Changing World Order by Ray Dalio
3) The Crash Course by Chris Martenson
4) The Five Stages of Collapse by Dmitri Orlov
The "fun" is only starting. This article gives some hint as to the momentum that is starting.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/27/costco-is-selling-gold-bars-and-they-are-selling-out-within-a-few-hours.html
P.S. It isn't anthropogenic climate change. That's a red herring. I have to laugh when I see commercials where Apple executives are telling Mother Nature of their plans to remove all carbon from the atmosphere by such-and-such date. Really? Pray tell, what are all the plants going to utilize for photosynthesis? Then there's the talk about greenhouse gases where they conveniently seem to forget about water vapor, one of the most ubiquitous greenhouse gases. The underwater volcanic explosion in Tonga put an enormous amount of water vapor into the atmosphere that will take years to clear. Pollution is definitely a problem but carbon dioxide is not. Plant life (and in turn animal life) has thrived on the planet during the times of highest carbon dioxide. Sun cycles and magnetic pole movement are a definite problem but I don't see mankind as having any solutions to controlling volcanic explosions, sun cycles, and magnetic pole migration. We can control debt, however, but seem largely uninterested in doing so. Let the good times roll until ...
Regarding getting into your doctor--I'd had the same problem, and then I was fortunate to find a resolution. This is going to sound like an advertisement, lol, but please believe me when I say it is not. I'm just a very happy and relieved patient. About a year ago I was in Mexico, and came down with some kind of infection in my uvula and back of my throat. I could barely even drink water, it was excruciating. I saw two doctors there, but nothing helped, and I cut my vacation short to come home.
Once home I tried getting in to see my doctor at the BIG practice here in town, you know what I mean. Good doctors, but the system was such that I couldn't get in to see them, no matter how much agony I was in. I ended up going to a walk-in clinic; they did their best, but it was never diagnosed. Eventually, it just went away.
So I was feeling pretty sour about my health care when I happened to meet Dr. Ryan Brang at a Chamber of Commerce event. About a year ago, he and his wife Dr. Katie Brang were unhappy working in the typical system, and started this practice of direct patient care. They do not take insurance; I pay $95 a month, and that makes me a "member" of their practice, kind of like having a gym membership. You can get appointments often the next day, or even same day if you're in urgent need, and appointments are included in the membership. And in some cases, they will make house calls (!) within 10 miles of Marquette. And you can text them with questions, and they'll respond quickly. You don't want to abuse this ability of course, but it's good to have when you need it. Oh, and they can get most medications at a price that's a fraction of what I used to pay at a pharmacy.
https://northcountryhealthmqt.com/
Their goal is to make medicine more like what it used to be, where you really know your doctor. And they're dedicated to fostering community. For example, there's a book group that meets in their office every Wednesday, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Next month, the book is "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown. The focus of the group is sort of on growing community, peace of mind, real happiness, etc.
If you have any doubts, ask to speak to their other patients. Every one that I know is extremely happy with them. I hope this note doesn't violate your standards, Brian, but your comment about getting in to see your doctor made me think you and your readers might appreciate this.
...now if I could just get in to see my dentist, oy...