I have a tooth ache.

I just called 20 different dentists in my area. The ONE that takes Medicare/Medicaid is not currently accepting new patients. The rest don't take Medicare or Medicaid.

I'm so screwed. This tooth is getting worse. I really need to be seen. Blech.

I was just flipping through our copy the other day, pondering which recipes would be good at a big gathering - ones that would be easily made ahead, easily kept warm or cold, etc. Let us know how you like the ones you try, Aillean.

Can you go to a Gentle Dentle type place? I don't know if they are any cheaper though, although they generally do a cheap intro cleaning/xray thing.

vw, that is so aggravating. I have had that trouble with my medical coverage in the past too. Can you call the number on the back of your card and see if they can find you a dentist in your area that is accepting new patients?

That's rough, vw. I hope you can work something out soon.

I've actually called the one place that accepts Medicare/Medicaid once a month since I moved. They always say, "Call back next month." I probably could have avoided this. It kinda pisses me off.

I just did a search on Mediare.gov. Hopefully this will come up with something.

28 phone calls later, and I found a place that will take MassHealth. Actually, called Gentle Dental, and they referred me to a place. Bless them.

I have to call back later, because they are on their lunch break. But, they should be able to get me in soon. Thank goodness.

Yay, vw! I am glad your persistence paid off.

Mathnet!

Square One also had a Weird Al video called "Patterns!" I have it on videotape somewhere.

I remember the episode of Mathnet where George had a bumper sticker that was all the way across the bumper. It said "I brake for people who brake for animals so I don't hit them."

George also went fishing off Nomanisan Island.

the Defenestration of Prague

They threw the whole city out the window?

ION, I am in the rare situation of being proud of my town. Provo doesn't have a homeless shelter. We used to have one, but the fine people decided we didn't want "those sorts" to be encouraged to hang around. However, people are dying on the streets from the cold, and someone said, I guess, "What would Jesus do?"

So I braced myself and read the comments on the local news outlet's comment board. The first comment was, "We don't want those icky people here!" The rest, however, were, "Let's explain compassion to you." The vast majority of the remarks were "It's about time we helped these people." There were several "they're just druggies and hookers and crime will skyrocket," but on the whole, my town has shown a far more compassionate face in public than I would have thought.

There was even a comment that harping on what the homeless will possibly do to your property values is more in line with what the Religious Right would say, but Jesus would not agree, and perhaps it's time to decide if you want to be Conservative or Christian.