KS Quote of the Day

The Kansas House almost voted in favor of overriding a governor's veto
on a bill that would regulate abortion clinics.

Rep. Judith Loganbill, D-Wichita is quoted in the
Lawrence Journal-Word as saying she defended the veto because she is

"waiting for the bill that seeks to regulate all of the clinics"

Federalization and Airport Screeners

Over at Marginal Revolution, there's a good summary of the effects of "Federalization" of airport security.

• Most of the larger airports around the world, and those most effected by terrorism use private firms.
• The US chose the same airport security method that didn't protect against 9/11.
• The GAO says private screeners work better.
  

Link

K-State says TV clutter is distracting.

File under "duh."

Fun with Email List names

I signed up for the Consumer's Union email newsletter some months back. I believe it was inadvertent, since my "Name" for their email list was clearly something I didn't care about.



If you are interested in signing up, their email topics are usually "the sky is falling, prices are too high, and emailing your congresscritter will help." Sigh.

Medical Moebius Strip

This is a rough transcript of the phone call with my doctor's office (actually a branch in another city where the older paper records are stored).

Me: I would like to know if anyone else is on record as being able to access my medical information.




Them: We need a signed release to access your file.





Me: I don't want any information released, I just want to know if someone else has access to it.




Them: Yes, we can't look at your file without a release.




Me: But how do you know if I am authorized to grant access to my records without looking at my file?




Them: We need you to sign a release to access your file.




Me: I don't want to know WHO it is, nor do I want to change it. I just want to know if someone other than myself is on record in my file, and able to access my medical information.




Them: We would need a signed release to do that.




Me: If a stranger requested access to my medical records, would you first look in the file and see if they were able to access them, and if they weren't, isn't that releasing the same information I am requesting? Is a signed release required in that case? If a signed release is required, what's the point of putting them in the file saying they can access my records without a release?




Them: I am not sure, I would have to talk to my manager.