DISGRASIAN™

Is There Anything Sadder Than A Sad Panda? [VIDEO]

Meet Jialing Chen. He’s 62 years old and works on Wall Street. He’s not an investment banker, however; he’s Sad Panda (and SpongeBob SquarePants some days). The Guangzhou-native-turned-permanent-U.S.-resident–who lost his Chinese restaurant waiter job in 2007 because his mother died and, as the eldest son, had to return to China to make funeral arrangements–makes $30 on a good day as Sad Panda. His wife works 7 days a week as a private nurse so that they can afford health care. Nevertheless, at the end of this month, Chen will lose his health insurance.



(interview/video by Columbia J-School student Michelle Tay)

When people talk about the recession being over, think of Sad Panda (and the other 15 million unemployed Americans). When people drag their feet on health care reform, think of Sad Panda. Shoot, when you think your life sucks or your job blows, think of Sad Panda.

[via Gothamist]

[Michelle Tay's Blog: always one foot on the ground]

Thanks, Jong!

Filed under: Forgotten People, Health Care, Health Care Bill, Health Care Reform, Immigrants, Jialing Chen, Michelle Tay, Pandas, Sad Panda, The Recession, The Recession Over, The Working Poor, Unemployment

How To Piss Off Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Lazy Mammogram Guidelines

Did anybody else catch today’s conversation between CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Nurse Lucy Marion from the U.S. Preventive Task Force (the group that released this week’s controversial recommendation that women should begin routine mammograms 10 years later than previously determined, and perform less self-examinations–in order to prevent unnecessary “anxiety” and costly biopsy tests)?

We don’t have the terse/awkward video, but here’s a transcript of the throwdown:

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: About 75 to 90 percent of breast cancers are found in women who have absolutely no family history and no identifiable risk factors. If you are a woman hearing that at age 40, right now watching, 75 to 90 percent of breast cancers found with people who have no risk factors, no family history, what should they do?

LUCY MARION, PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE: I would not recommend it. I would not make a recommendation. We’re saying that the benefits are small.

GUPTA: What do you mean by that? When you say the benefits are small? Let’s not beat around the bush here. What exactly are you trying to say?

MARION: We look at it in various ways. For example, we look at life years gained by the actual screening every year or every other year. And the life years gained for that group is not very large. There are some life years gained. But it’s not very large.

GUPTA: You’re a nurse and…

MARION: And I know…

GUPTA: I don’t want to, you know…

MARION: I am.

GUPTA: … dig ourselves into a whole [sic] here. You’re a nurse, you’re in a profession of healing and compassion.

Are you comfortable with what you’re saying right now? Continue reading How To Piss Off Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Lazy Mammogram Guidelines

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness, Breast Exams, CNN, Controversy, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Early Detection, Health Care Reform, Lucy Marion R.N., Mammograms, Medical Insurance Companies, Recommendations, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Calling All Ninjas: Joe Lieberman Threatens To Filibuster Public Option

Remember how a few weeks ago, we told you about a “Ninja” who was threatening to kick Joe Lieberman’s ass in Connecticut, but we were like, Whoa, whoa, Ninja, let’s wait to see what he can do with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the repeal of which Lieberman was rumored to be heading up?

It’s unclear whether Lieberman has made any progress on that front, and now Senator Grimace Face is up to his old tricks again, namely, screwing Democrats, by threatening to join Republicans in a filibuster of any health care bill that would carry a public option.

For any of you confused about what the public option is, watch this simple, succinct explanation given by economist, former Secretary of Labor, and really smart man Robert Reich:

Continue reading Calling All Ninjas: Joe Lieberman Threatens To Filibuster Public Option

Filed under: Assholes, Bad Democrats, Filibuster, Health Care, Health Care Bill, Health Care Bill Public Option, Health Care Reform, Independents, Joe Lieberman, Ninjas, Senator Harry Reid, Senator Joe Lieberman, Turncoats