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FakeNoose

FakeNoose's Journal
FakeNoose's Journal
September 13, 2021

A musical family reunion :-)



Found on Reddit

September 11, 2021

Update on Phil Collins and the Genesis reunion tour


Caption: Phil Collins performs at London's Hyde Park on June 30, 2017, during his "Not Dead Yet" tour. (Wikimedia Commons/Raph_PH)

(Newser link) https://www.newser.com/story/310890/genesis-first-tour-in-14-years-will-look-quite-different.html

Phil Collins Can No Longer Drum

Dealing with health issues, he'll sing sitting down during Genesis' upcoming reunion tour

(NEWSER) – Phil Collins is considered one of the greatest drummers of all time—but you won't find him with a stick in his hand during Genesis' fall reunion tour, the 54-year-old band's first tour in 14 years. "I can barely hold a stick with this hand," the 70-year-old drummer/singer told BBC Breakfast in a taped interview that aired Thursday, indicating his left hand. "I'm kind of physically challenged a bit, which is very frustrating because I'd love to be playing up there."

Collins, an eight-time Grammy winner on his own, "suffered severe nerve damage to his hands ... making it nearly impossible for him to even grip drumsticks, let alone play the instrument," per Rolling Stone. The nerve damage resulted from back surgeries in 2009 and 2015, per the Guardian. Collins was hospitalized after falling and hitting his head during his "Not Dead Yet" solo tour in 2017. CNN reports he began using a cane afterward. He also has diabetes.

He told the BBC that his son, Nic, would play drums for the band during the tour, which includes 14 dates in North America, while Collins will sing sitting down. "We're all men of our age and I think to some extent it probably is putting it to bed," he said. "I think, just generally for me, I don't know if I want to go out on the road any more." Bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford told the BBC it "feels good" to head back out on the road, though he agreed it was probably for the last time. "The Last Domino?" tour, delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, kicks off Sept. 20 in England before heading stateside in November.


- short article, no more at link -

Based on BBC interview of Phil Collins here: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-58508715



September 11, 2021

What do astronauts eat in space?



It looks like the SpaceX crew ate pretty well. However I don't think the reindeer jerky would have interested me.

Found on Reddit
September 11, 2021

I live close enough to Shanksville, PA (a little over an hour's drive)

... however I have no plans to visit it tomorrow. Of course I've seen the 9/11 memorial several times, and I was there even before any memorial had been built yet.

My point is that Dubya going there tomorrow is reason enough for me NOT to go. I have no desire to hear him speak, or listen to the applause that's certain to follow.

My sisters and I may take a drive out there during the week, I'm not sure yet. Sept. 11th is forever etched in all of our minds, none of us will ever forget what happened. We don't want to be part of the patriotic parade tomorrow though.





September 6, 2021

The engineer and the anti-vaxxer (joke)

An engineer and an anti-vaxxer were walking through the woods when they came upon a bridge across a crocodile-infested river.

The anti-vaxxer asked the engineer, "What are the odds of us making it across that bridge safely?"

The engineer took out his calculator and his tape measure, did a structural analysis and said, "99.97% chance we'll make it across that bridge safely."

The anti-vaxxer responded, without even thinking, "Forget that, I'm swimming!"



Found on Reddit

September 2, 2021

U.S. accuses UPMC surgeon, physicians group of false billing



(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2021/09/02/U-S-accuses-UPMC-surgeon-of-filing-false-claims-to-Medicare-Medicaid-Luketich-billing/stories/202109020160

The chairman of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery has for years systematically billed for unnecessary surgeries or surgeries he didn't perform and directly harmed patients, all with UPMC's knowledge, the federal government said in a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court.

Dr. James Luketich, who practices at UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside, is the defendant along with UPMC and University of Pittsburgh Physicians.

The U.S. suit, based on a two-year investigation into allegations originally brought by a former UPMC doctor under whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, alleges that Dr. Luketich and UPMC have submitted hundreds of false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health benefit programs over the past six years.

The suit says Dr. Luketich regularly performed as many as three complex surgical procedures at the same time, failed to participate in all of the “key and critical” portions of his surgeries and forced his patients to endure hours of medically unnecessary anesthesia time as he moved between operating rooms and attended to other patients or hospital matters.

Those practices violate the statutes and regulations governing doctors and hospitals, including those that prohibit "teaching physicians" such as Dr. Luketich from performing and billing for “concurrent surgeries,” the suit says.


- more at link -

This is big news in Pittsburgh. UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) is not only a nationally-known teaching hospital, but the system of hospitals is one of the major medical providers in western Pennsylvania.

August 31, 2021

Lying about his age (joke)

John, a wealthy 60 year old man, shows up at the country club one day with his new wife, a smoking hot 22 year old blonde.

His buddies are amazed. "There is no way someone that young and attractive would agree to marry an old geezer like you. How did you pull it off?"

"It's simple," John says, "I lied to her about my age."

"Did you tell her you were 50?" his friends ask. John shakes his head no.

"There is no way she could believe you were 40". John shakes his head again.

"So how old did you tell her you were exactly?"

John smiles and says, "85."

August 30, 2021

A Terrible Year for Coffee Just Got Worse



(Newser link) https://www.newser.com/story/310428/a-terrible-year-for-coffee-just-got-worse.html

COVID-related restrictions in 2nd-biggest grower, Vietnam, add to supply problems

By John Johnson, Newser Staff
Posted Aug 30, 2021 9:21 AM CDT

(NEWSER) – This has been a worrisome year for those in the coffee business because of a double whammy—first drought, then frost—in Brazil, the world's biggest grower. That has put more pressure on the world's second-biggest grower, Vietnam, to pick up the slack, but now Bloomberg reports on serious supply problems there as well. This trouble is related to COVID, not the weather, as Vietnam has imposed a strict lockdown on the exporting hub of Ho Chi Minh, as well as restrictions in key growing areas. All of which means exporters are struggling to get their beans out of the country. Worse, this is only adding to already existing problems such as a shortage of shipping containers and sky-high shipping rates related to the pandemic.

The upshot is that coffee prices—at least in the bulk shipping sense—are at their highest in four years (about $2 per ton), reports CNN. So far, chains such as Starbucks have been able to avoid jacking prices too much because they buy in advance and can hedge against these spikes. But that can't last forever. JM Smucker, which owns the brands Dunkin' and Folgers, warned last week that consumer prices might have to rise in the near future, and JDE Peet's (Peet's Coffee and Stumptown) have said much the same previously. (Also: Your morning cup of coffee may have an unpleasant origin story.)


- short article, no more at link -

Blurb is based on longer article from Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-27/global-coffee-supply-dealt-fresh-blow-by-vietnam-s-virus-curbs

August 28, 2021

We're Librarians, and we're here to help



Posted on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/pdaerz/this_sign_at_the_library/

Sign posted at a local library for people who needed help to locate books on serious topics.
"As Librarians, we're not here to judge, we're here to help."

August 28, 2021

Rescued Afghan family steps off the plane in Belgium



I don't have any details for this story, except that the photo was just posted on Reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/pdd39q/the_joy_in_that_step_afghan_girl_as_she_arrives/

That happy little Afghan girl is skipping and smiling on her new adventure.

Profile Information

Name: Kathy Hinsman
Gender: Female
Hometown: Pittsburgh PA
Home country: USA
Current location: Pittsburgh
Member since: Sat Feb 18, 2017, 02:16 PM
Number of posts: 32,777

About FakeNoose

Hey DU friends! Baby boomer here. I became a voter in 1972 when I turned 21, and I've been voting regularly ever since. For a long time I remained independent - always voting for Dem candidates. However that changed in 2008 when I wanted to vote for Hillary Clinton for President. But I live in Pennsylvania where we have closed elections, and my only chance to vote for Hillary was in the Dem primary. So I joined the Democratic Party in 2008, voted for Hillary, and I've never looked back. Barack Obama won the primary in Pennsylvania, as ell as most other states, and I supported him in the general election. It was a different story in 2016 .... You'll never convince me that Chump didn't CHEAT his way into the White House. The worst 4 years in the history of our country ensued, 2017 to 2020, and the first few days of 2021. We all lived through it and i don't need to explain it now. My goal is to make sure that Chump NEVER gets elected to ANYTHING again. Not even Dogcatcher of West Palm Beach FL. Whether he goes to prison is not up to me - but he must be CONVICTED of his crimes and PREVENTED from running for office again. Better yet - he should be in prison or six-feet-under. You get me? I love the cooperation, optimism and can-do spirit of Democratic Underground. We're a community of liberal-minded Americans and we know how to share our stories constructively and pro-actively. Let's all pitch in and get this job done. There has never been a more important election that right now, this year. Democrats everywhere MUST WIN. Joe Biden must win FOUR MORE YEARS!
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