Over the transom
(or, cleaning out that file of stuff I've been meaning to blog about for the last three months)

The next time you think about how much you or your employer is pouring into the gaping, sucking vortex of health insurance, just remember that it's going to a good cause.


Katrina survivors are forced to squabble with their insurance companies over whether the damage to their insured property was caused by floods or winds.


Trent Lott, staunch Republican partisan for "tort reform" to limit individual's ability to sue corporations for misbehavior, has a sudden change of heart.


Walgreens has helpfully sent me -- or, rather, themselves -- a check for $20.00. On the check is the following note, in type about 2 millimeters high.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Purchase of a new or transferred prescription required (prescriptions cannot be transferred from another Walgreens.) Give check to phamracist at time of prescription purchase. Offer not valid with Medicaid, Medicare, or any other governmental programs or where prohibited by law. Cannot be combined with other offers, limit one check per customer.

Good toward any purchase except prescriptions, co-pays, liquor, tobacco and dairy as restricted.

Oh well. At least it's good for something.


Mike Shatzkin, speaking to a publishers' association, discusses Publishing and Digital Change : What's Next? Among the topics discussed: the "problem" of college students being able to purchase used copies of textbooks and how publishers can use digital textbooks to "solve" it. Also, how to "solve" the "problem" of a global free trade in books, which limits the publishers' ability to selectively price-gouge North American and European students.


And, lastly, the Historical Society of Michigan is planning their Upper Peninsula History conference for June 23-25 in Escanaba. I probably won't be able to make it. But anyone feels like making the trek, let me know.