I did quantify in my initial comment "if it doesn't cost them anything" so as long as it is not totally free and they are paying something (to see a basic clinic and what not). One thing I do think there should be is not health insurance they way it is traditionally thought of, but a Catastrophic insurance which would cover things like non-lifestyle related issues (lung cancer for smokers, cirrhosis of the liver for excessive drinkers, various issues that come from extremely poor living including extreme obesity (unless there is some other issue that goes with it like thyroid issues which makes weight control difficult), etc just to name a few). By having that catastrophic insurance it should lead people to live better lifestyles since while they are covered for things outside their direct control, they know that by having to pay for their own health upkeep (even if subsidized) they will live in a more healthy way. Personally speaking if it wasn't for the unknown potential issues that would cost me tons of money I wouldn't have health insurance myself, but I would rather play it safe in case I need to go in for an appendectomy or something that is outside of my control.

We tried that before. If i recall last time we tried to outlaw alcohol it backfired and gave to the rise of 1920's gangsters, bootlegging, and everything that came with it. Outlawing products do not work, because people will find a way to get them, much in the same way as today's war on drugs, if anything it has lead to an increase of drug usage.

Personally speaking this article is a perfect example why people shouldn't get "free" or rather publicly paid health care as it leads people to live in a manner which is inconsistent with healthy living as there is no cost benefit to them otherwise. If people have to pay for what they are getting they are more inclined to live in a manner which fits what they can afford. As in what incentive do people have to live healthily if it doesn't cost them anything to live the opposite.

You sir have discovered capitalism at work! Why do people demonize businesses who seek out the best and brightest and PAY them for their knowledge and skill. Perhaps because they didn't get those well paying jobs themselves.

Just because it has been detected now doesn't mean it hasn't been around for hundreds, thousands, millions, or even billions of years already. So too early to say that these holes are anything to worry about. After all, the sun does coronal mass ejections quite often, some of which are aimed towards us, which while major events generally uneventful, maybe with some satellites knocked out.

Hmm potentially illegal in most jurisdictions falling under the same category as TV's that are viewable from the drivers seat while in motion. Plus it blocks part of the steering wheel which means you have to use an altered hand placement on the steering wheel(as opposed to 10 and 2 or 9 and 3). Also addressing the saving your life issue, is what happens if he does get into an accident which causes air bag deployment? I see either the iPad flying right into your face or if the mount is rigid enough blocking the airbag from deploying and sending your face potentially into the steering wheel and iPad. Plus the first rule of driving, when driving that should be your only task, not talking on a phone, text messaging, or even playing with the radio or heat controls. Save those for a stop light or pull over, or if you really need to use an iPad or cell phone while driving, hire a driver so you can do everything you "need" to do without endangering yours or more importantly others lives while out on the road.

There is an important lesson to be learned here. In the UK they have a near completely socialized health care system which involves rationing of the health care. Some bureaucrat somewhere in London decided it was not a priority to deem such falls as non serious which lead to the death of her. If the current Obamacare plan passes in the US, this will start to happen much more often in the US as people deemed too much of a risk or a "low" chance of survival will be put to a lower priority. I know the US Congress members that are pro Obamacare and Obama himself say this will not happen, but it is what we have to look forward to if and when Obamacare becomes law.

And to think that it seems all the rage is to be upgrading Atari's with an Svideo board as featured on hack-a-day a few weeks ago http://hackaday.com/2009/04/05/s-video-from-an-atari-2600/ . Honestly I don't know why people want to make their TV's look like a 30 year old TV display. The reason for all that bleeding was the circuitry that converted the video and audio signal to RF and then the deconverting of that signal in the TV. It is beyond me why anybody would want to make something look like it did, instead of how it should look. I grew up playing the Atari 2600 and I thought it was fun, but I certainly am not fond of how it looked. I'm just waiting for my SVideo converter board to arrive so I can upgrade my 2600 to look how it should, not how it did. (And I'm still using a CRT TV as well none of these new fangled LCD TV's). - XSS