Friday, January 30, 2004

I got a tip from a mailing list that it is so cold today that you can take boiling water outside and toss it in the air and watch it crystalize before it hits the ground.  I figured, "a good experiment for the kids".  So, I boiled some water and filled a one litre pitcher with boiling water and took them outside.  So trusting was I of this missive that I stood on the sidewalk and tossed a litre of boiling water straight up in the air and then looked up to watch the show.  Half of it did crystalize.  The other scaldingly hot half rained down on my upturned face and scalp as I ducked.  The kids liked that.  A neat puff of snow in the air followed by dad screaming and putting snow on his face.  I decided to try again, this time planning to throw less water a lot higher so that it would all crystalize.  Boiling water may not all crystalize in the air, but it sure freezes fast.  I walked out to the same spot as before and tossed the water with such force that my feet flew out from under me on the ice that had already formed from my first attempt and I landed on my side, more embarrassed than hurt.    They apparently loved the show because now they want to do more "experiments".  9:52:01 PM    comment []

Before we get a national health plan, we as a society need to agree upon a cost per life saved figure which will determine which procedures will be paid for and which will be rationed. This means that we will be coming up with a dollar figure for the worth of a human life. A radio story last night set some pretty broad brackets around this number. A public health expert pondered meningitis outbreaks among college freshmen. Discussing a vaccine against bacterial meningitis, he said that a general vaccination for all college freshmen would run as high as $20 million per life saved, clearly not worth it, according to the official. On the other hand, giving medicine to those close to a case of meningitis would be about $65 per life saved, well worth it. So, we are looking for a number between $65 and $20 million per life saved. Clearly, we have to zero in a little more, but its a start. I don't think I have ever before heard a public official give a figure for acceptible cost-effectiveness of health care. 2:51:23 PM    comment []