Interesting that in this thread--
 

--the discussion of having surgeries/treatments in other countries due to lower cost came up--it's been an issue on the TV show "Boston Legal" for a few weeks.

The issue, of course, plays right into the "why is health care in the US so expensive" question, which leads (at least it leads me) into discussions of marketing/administrative costs of private insureres, health care reform, single payer systems . . .

I had an MRI done of my back.
 

And the cost was $300. I beleive that is is much more expensive overseas from what I have heard. Also Tiger Balm costs almost $10 in Australia. Quite dear huh??

Women from Australia are going to Thailand everyday to get Bust enlargments and other cosmetic surgery because it is much cheaper there than here.

Tiger Balm cost $10!!!!!1
 

Oh my god, it's a little tiny jar and it cost $10.00

Good Lord. doesn't seem right now does it???

mel

That's right Mel
 

That tiny bit of Tiger Balm cost nearly $10.00, a magazine costs about 7-ish dollars.

scoop of icecream $3
kebab $7.50
T-bone $25 dollars a kilo
1 coke $3

Sydney has gotten very expensive the last 3 years,almost unaffordable. Alot of people are leaving and going to country towns. I mean you can earn 100,000 a year in income and still be broke after paying the huge mortgage most people have here with a basic home costing around $500 k.

Hmn.
 

Sounds just like New York, London, Los Angeles, Boston, Paris, Berlin, Toronto, Stockholm, Amsterdam--think it has something to do with the inflationary sprial generated by overheated real estate prices?

In the US, there is fear that the real estate bubble is about to burst, if it hasn't already--too many people being priced out of being able to live in too many places.

Of course, one can always go live in rural Mississippi or rural Montana--if one doesn't mind being very far away from good medical facilities.

One of the reasons I know I can't really leave NYC (beyond the fact that my career is here) is that with my medical concerns, it would not be prudent to be hours away from tertiary medical centers. (I always think of the trouble Billye's had, living in rural Texas.)

But--is the fact that one does not have to pay, in more "civilized" nations, for national health insurance, education, and other subsidies at least a bit of a compensation for the 3-dollar ice cream scoop?

(What does 3 Australian dollars convert to in American currency these days?)

Melody,
You're either from another planet, or are a retired writer from SNL- :)

Mrs D ! Oh No!
I do hope your son paints that step!
I 'wobble' frequently and my right amkle likes to buckle at the most
unexplainable times. I know how you feel.
Please be more careful in the future. All of us PN'ers have to 'watch our step'.
We don't like to hear that you've had a problem - ya gotta keep the 'ship in shape'.

Probably from Mars.
 

Bob:

I always had the sneaking suspicion that I am not from this world.

maybe that's why I never missed an episode of Star Trek and I can do dialogue from each episode from over 30 years ago.

My son once watched me say the lines exactly as the people on the screen were saying them. I said Spock's lines, Kirk's line and when Spock had to marry that lady Tpring, I even said the names of the weapons that were brought out.

My son looked at me and said "how on earth can you do that?" I would say "well, I'm obviously not from earth".

I think I am one of those Vesuvian Moon Maidens. Yeah, that's it. A moon maiden. Now if I could only get the body to match the mind!!!

Live long and prosper,

Melody

First off!
 

Melody, your Gina image has not yet been asorbed into the brain image! Keep looking at yerself in the mirror, or the shop window glass...Who knows? You mite get used to it! Heck appreciate it! Other words in mind are 'savor, enjoy and a sort of:let them ALL eat cake and gain! LOTS'...

Mrs.D and all...I have never, ever seen anyone fall gracefully..always some form of 'splutter, thud, splat'. It cannot be done. Put a positive spin on it tho to get the point across of 'That DRATTED NEUROPATHY!' Maybe, some furry brains can connect cause/effect dots.

I don't know about others, but once you pass a certain age [30-40?] well, you plain old do not bounce and get back up without consequences.

Simply be grateful that there were folks around to pick you up ...and, if needed, those able to tote you to the hospital or ER. You all know what I mean.

When I was a kid, my Mom would occasionally spank me..it was more of a heavy pat one would give to a big dog...Always, the comment: This hurts your pride more than yourself. When I fall and crawl/clamor ever so gracelessly up to the standing-upright position, that comment is very loud in my head. Then, the other part of the brain pipes up a loud 'DONT DO THAT!' . We get by. Hugs and super good thoughts to all! - j

I once put my mother on top of the refrigerator!!!
 

Dahlek:

You wrote:
"When I was a kid, my Mom would occasionally spank me..it was more of a heavy pat one would give to a big dog.".

Oh my, the memories that brought back to me!!! Way back in my youth when I was MUCH BIGGER!!!, my mother and I used to get INTO IT!! big time. See, she couldn't stand fat people. And I was fat. My grandmother was 4 feet 11 inches and my mother was just barely 5 feet tall. She had 9 brothers and sisters, all Liliputians!!!

So I came along, all five feet 7 inches of me (sideways too), and to put it mildly my mom and I did not have the best relationship.

so one day, well, she just got to me, and since I didn't want to get arrested for assault and battery, I simply picked her up and put her on top of our refrigerator. It wasn't a big refrigerator and she didn't weigh much so it was no big deal for me to do this. I left her on top of the fridge yelling her head off for somebody to get her down.

Since I was an only child (I think I was 17 at the time), there was no one home. This happened about 5 minutes before my father came in from work.

Want to know the first thing out of his mouth when he walked into the kitchen and saw my mother on top of the refrigerator????

He said "what on earth did you do to her now?"""" true story.........

thankfully, I then lost weight and she was proud.

Never put her up there again. WANTED TO MANY TIMES!!!!

but never did.

really happened. But don't tell my husband. Wouldn't want him to think he's married to Arnold and not Gina!!!

mel

Hi Glen
 

3 AU dollars equals 2.25 US dollars. Sydney has been listed as one of the top 5 least affordable places to live and buy property, worlwide. I am not sure what free eduction means because government schools are free of cost, but Catholic,Anglican & Private scools are quite dear. So is university education.


Healthcare, our healthcare system is cheaper but not free,and it is now crumbling due to a shortage of hospitals,doctors, & hospital beds. Everyday you turn on the tele you here of someone who died in the waiting room waiting for care. Or you here of someone dieing from hospital negligence due to understaffing. It's very common here. There was a recent story of a pregnant women who was taken away by ambulance. She had gone into labour. She was turned away at 3 hospitals,and she was redirected to a hospital 3 hours away because that was the only bed available.

It costs money to see a doctor, it's about $35-55 dollars. It costs about $180 dollars to see a specialist. Medicare reimburses I think 70% of that back to you, but non the less if you have to go regularly it can be dear.