This isn't so much to gloat as to express surprise: Rarely does a newspaper of our size beat EVERYONE, including the big-city types, to an important regional story. But I think we might have in reporting last night at 27east that Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield is poised to pull most of its small group plans from New York, apparently angered over the state's refusal to allow higher rates over the last five quarters.
The change will go into effect in April, and though Empire says it doesn't plan to drop out of the small group market in New York, that seems dubious--the effect will be that only a couple of unattractive plans will remain, and it seems like a way to make a fast exit. Or at least to threaten one as a way to open negotiations with the state for higher rates.
The key here is that there are only a handful of options for small-business owners in New York as it stands, when it comes to health insurance plans. If Empire, the largest of the bunch, were to pull out, it will leave most businesses with even fewer options, and likely higher rates.
Anyway, the story is starting to be picked up by larger outlets--Crain's New York, a key business publication, being the first (AFTER THE PRESS, that is)--so when you see it, just remember: You read it here first. Hee-hee.
http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/East-End/404493/Source-Empire-Blue-Cross-Blue-Shield-Set-To-Drop-Most-Of-Its-Small-Group-Plans-In-New-York
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20111104/HEALTH_CARE/111109952
Friday, November 4, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Talk About Niche Publishing ...
Found this magazine in our hotel room in NYC this weekend ... did a double-take on the title.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Here's one to mull over...
A New York City cab driver last night asked me one of those questions that really makes you think:
"Tell me: Have you ever seen a baby pigeon?"
"Tell me: Have you ever seen a baby pigeon?"
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Turning Over A New Leaf...
When I washed up on these shores 13 years ago, I found myself out of step in many ways with the local community. Much of it was linguistic: I drank "pop," called those rubbery things that you shoot at someone "gumbands," and used a "sweeper" to clean the floors. (I have to say, you people talk funny.)
Today, I still use all those words in the comfort of my own home, but I try to conform occasionally in polite society. I’ve found myself allowing words like "dog" and "coffee" to evolve in something resembling an East End way. I’ve also been lectured extensively on "Dawn" and "Don," and had it explained to me repeatedly that the two words are not pronounced in exactly the same—although that particular lesson has yet to sink in.
But there are other phenomena that are stubbornly foreign to me. For instance, the placid acceptance of patronage in local politics. Every instance of someone getting a political appointment, job or other favor simply because of their connections stirs my blood. But most people I talk to shrug and say, "Eh, what do you expect? You get elected, you reward the people who got you there." For the first few years, I frothed and tried to stir up revolution. Today, I’ve scaled it back to simply shaking my head in wonder.
Another thing I confess to being baffled by: leaf pickup. It’s a timely topic, what with the leaves finally beginning to loosen their grip, and Southampton Town preparing to deal with the issue.
With all due respect to everyone who believes fervently that leaf pickup is a God-given right included in Section 3, Paragraph 16, of the Dongan Patent—"Ere, henceforth, the freeholders and commonality of this Towne of Southampton shall nay be troubled by the scrap and land flotsam resulting from harvestime loosening of the flora’s bounty"—I don’t understand the passion on the subject. It seems ridiculous to me.
How is it that we have a right to free and timely pickup of our yard waste but not, say, our garbage? I have heard of municipal garbage collection for years; we even had it in my sleepy little hometown of 1,100 in the woods. (The cost? Eight dollars—every three months.) It makes sense—the last thing a community wants is garbage lying around.
But leaves? Sure, it’s nice to have the town get rid of them free of charge if you rake them to the side of the road. But is it really an essential service? And when the time comes to "cut government spending," as everyone seems eager to do these days, how is this not the first thing to go?
Safety concerns? Please. When’s the last time a serious accident was caused by leaves? And how is piling them at the roadside safer?
I understand there are people who rely on the town’s service and can’t really bag their leaves, or afford to hire someone to do it. But is that really a reason to provide the free benefit townwide, to everyone? Last time I checked, the senior citizen shuttle isn’t making runs to the Boardy Barn on Sundays in the summer. These folks have a right to some special treatment.
I’m not trying to be difficult here—I’m genuinely amazed by this, and I’ve been scolded many times for my position. "It’s the one tangible bit of benefit I get for my tax dollars," one person explained, which is the best argument I’ve heard.
Town officials are squaring off now, and it’s clearly a hot topic for residents. I plan to listen closely, hoping someone will convince me of the error of my ways.
Speak loudly, though—there are a lot of leaf blowers this time of year.
Today, I still use all those words in the comfort of my own home, but I try to conform occasionally in polite society. I’ve found myself allowing words like "dog" and "coffee" to evolve in something resembling an East End way. I’ve also been lectured extensively on "Dawn" and "Don," and had it explained to me repeatedly that the two words are not pronounced in exactly the same—although that particular lesson has yet to sink in.
But there are other phenomena that are stubbornly foreign to me. For instance, the placid acceptance of patronage in local politics. Every instance of someone getting a political appointment, job or other favor simply because of their connections stirs my blood. But most people I talk to shrug and say, "Eh, what do you expect? You get elected, you reward the people who got you there." For the first few years, I frothed and tried to stir up revolution. Today, I’ve scaled it back to simply shaking my head in wonder.
Another thing I confess to being baffled by: leaf pickup. It’s a timely topic, what with the leaves finally beginning to loosen their grip, and Southampton Town preparing to deal with the issue.
With all due respect to everyone who believes fervently that leaf pickup is a God-given right included in Section 3, Paragraph 16, of the Dongan Patent—"Ere, henceforth, the freeholders and commonality of this Towne of Southampton shall nay be troubled by the scrap and land flotsam resulting from harvestime loosening of the flora’s bounty"—I don’t understand the passion on the subject. It seems ridiculous to me.
How is it that we have a right to free and timely pickup of our yard waste but not, say, our garbage? I have heard of municipal garbage collection for years; we even had it in my sleepy little hometown of 1,100 in the woods. (The cost? Eight dollars—every three months.) It makes sense—the last thing a community wants is garbage lying around.
But leaves? Sure, it’s nice to have the town get rid of them free of charge if you rake them to the side of the road. But is it really an essential service? And when the time comes to "cut government spending," as everyone seems eager to do these days, how is this not the first thing to go?
Safety concerns? Please. When’s the last time a serious accident was caused by leaves? And how is piling them at the roadside safer?
I understand there are people who rely on the town’s service and can’t really bag their leaves, or afford to hire someone to do it. But is that really a reason to provide the free benefit townwide, to everyone? Last time I checked, the senior citizen shuttle isn’t making runs to the Boardy Barn on Sundays in the summer. These folks have a right to some special treatment.
I’m not trying to be difficult here—I’m genuinely amazed by this, and I’ve been scolded many times for my position. "It’s the one tangible bit of benefit I get for my tax dollars," one person explained, which is the best argument I’ve heard.
Town officials are squaring off now, and it’s clearly a hot topic for residents. I plan to listen closely, hoping someone will convince me of the error of my ways.
Speak loudly, though—there are a lot of leaf blowers this time of year.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Why I'm Excited About The Hamptons International Film Festival (Part III)
It's here! The HIFF starts tonight, and so I'll simply give you a laundry list of all the remaining films that really caught my attention. If you want to check them out, and see if tickets are available, go to www.hamptonsfilmfest.org. (I'm listing them in alphabetical order to make it easier to find them...)
* Charlotte Rampling: The Look
* Collaborator
* Coriolanus
* Crazy Horse
* The Descendants
* The Price Of Sex
* Scenes of a Crime
* Shame
* The Shore
* Sing Your Song/Belafonte interview
* Undefeated
* Warhol/discussion
* We Have A Pope
* We Need To Talk About Kevin
* The Wholly Family (Terry Gilliam)
* Without
* You've been Trumped
* Charlotte Rampling: The Look
* Collaborator
* Coriolanus
* Crazy Horse
* The Descendants
* The Price Of Sex
* Scenes of a Crime
* Shame
* The Shore
* Sing Your Song/Belafonte interview
* Undefeated
* Warhol/discussion
* We Have A Pope
* We Need To Talk About Kevin
* The Wholly Family (Terry Gilliam)
* Without
* You've been Trumped
Monday, October 10, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Why I'm Excited About The Hamptons International Film Festival (Part II)...
* Special screening of "Election," Saturday, October 15, 1 p.m., Guild Hall (followed at 3:15 p.m. by a conversation between star Mathew Broderick and interviewer Alec Baldwin)
I think Alexander Payne's morality tale set around a high school election is a modern classic--even though I still prefer his "Citizen Ruth" overall. If you haven't seen it, it deserves its treatment here. The added bonus is the after-film conversation...these usually leave me cold, but this one has the potential to be a real fun talk involving two very interesting talkers.
* "The Rum Diary," Saturday, October 15, 8:45 p.m., East Hampton UA Theater (2), and Sunday, October 16, 8 p.m., Southampton UA Theater
Johnny Depp famously channeled his friend Hunter S. Thompson in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"; this time he's going to embody a character written by HST--let's cut to the chase: it's still HST--in one of his novels. Bruce Robinson has a nice track record with "Withnail and I" and "How To Get Ahead in Advertising," so it'll be interesting to see what he does with the material. Depp's involvement has the potential to make this a breakout film...so see it here before the buzz begins.
* "Martha Marcy May Marlene," Friday, October 14, 9:30 p.m., East Hampton UA Theater (1), and Monday, October 17, 9 p.m., East Hampton UA Theater (1)
I confess, this is an example of web advertising and buzz both working to promote a film. I had heard some rumbling about the breakout performance Elizabeth Olsen, who is the little sister of twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen...word is that she's amazing in this film, which also features John Hawkes, who is rapidly becoming the Harvey Keitel of his generation--the lesser-known guy with amazing talent whose involvement in a film virtually guarantees its quality. This is a thriller about an upstate cult...I clicked on an ad to watch the trailer, and I admit it looks compelling.
(As an added bonus: For those of you who have never seen them, here are the opening credits for Gaspar Noe's "Enter the Void," which I think have now destroyed opening credits for all other directors--this is the greatest presentation of them in movie history. I think it was the Times reviewer who described it as "an explosion in a font factory."):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPxgi-PiNFE
I think Alexander Payne's morality tale set around a high school election is a modern classic--even though I still prefer his "Citizen Ruth" overall. If you haven't seen it, it deserves its treatment here. The added bonus is the after-film conversation...these usually leave me cold, but this one has the potential to be a real fun talk involving two very interesting talkers.
* "The Rum Diary," Saturday, October 15, 8:45 p.m., East Hampton UA Theater (2), and Sunday, October 16, 8 p.m., Southampton UA Theater
Johnny Depp famously channeled his friend Hunter S. Thompson in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"; this time he's going to embody a character written by HST--let's cut to the chase: it's still HST--in one of his novels. Bruce Robinson has a nice track record with "Withnail and I" and "How To Get Ahead in Advertising," so it'll be interesting to see what he does with the material. Depp's involvement has the potential to make this a breakout film...so see it here before the buzz begins.
* "Martha Marcy May Marlene," Friday, October 14, 9:30 p.m., East Hampton UA Theater (1), and Monday, October 17, 9 p.m., East Hampton UA Theater (1)
I confess, this is an example of web advertising and buzz both working to promote a film. I had heard some rumbling about the breakout performance Elizabeth Olsen, who is the little sister of twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen...word is that she's amazing in this film, which also features John Hawkes, who is rapidly becoming the Harvey Keitel of his generation--the lesser-known guy with amazing talent whose involvement in a film virtually guarantees its quality. This is a thriller about an upstate cult...I clicked on an ad to watch the trailer, and I admit it looks compelling.
(As an added bonus: For those of you who have never seen them, here are the opening credits for Gaspar Noe's "Enter the Void," which I think have now destroyed opening credits for all other directors--this is the greatest presentation of them in movie history. I think it was the Times reviewer who described it as "an explosion in a font factory."):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPxgi-PiNFE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)