My Yahoo! Blog

Navigating the New Health-Care Landscape

The historic health care reform legislation signed into law by President Obama may be a welcome landmark or a colossal disappointment, depending on your views. But I think nobody can deny that the mammoth bill’s sheer size and complexity — not to mention political drama — are enough to boggle the mind.

 Much time and effort is required to figure out what this new arrangement will mean for each of us and our families.  Will it affect your current health plan?  Should you prepare for additional costs?  How are “pre-existing conditions” defined?

 The questions will keep coming, but you can narrow your search for answers by checking out these sources:

• Kaiser Health News – Health Reform: This daily roundup of major news coverage gives you a quick survey of current reporting, with links that you can follow for more in-depth coverage of topics that interest you. An additional Kaiser feed, the Daily Health Policy Report (http://feeds.kaiserhealthnews.org/dailyreport) also offers useful summaries.
• New York Times – Health Care Reform: You’re likely to find daily articles on the topic, and many of these articles link to more informative resources on the NYT site.
• Health Care Reform Center: From the publishers of the New England Journal of Medicine, this feed takes a more academic look at the large issues involved in the new legislation and what they mean for the health care industry.
• FactCheck.org: This feed contains updates that focus on consumer advocacy and try to reduce political confusion; several of the recent posts relate to health-care reform.  The source: Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

 Following the intricacies of this important issue could give anyone a headache. But you’d be smart to brush up on some of the feed details above before calling the doctor.

 Apps mentioned in this post:

• Add Kaiser Health News – Health Reform
• Add New York Times – Health Care Reform
• Add Health Care Reform Center
• Add FactCheck.org

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

‘I Want My Pre-MTV!’

Reunions of casts from classic TV shows like “Eight Is Enough” and “The Partridge Family” generated huge interest among Yahoo! users earlier this month.  I’ll admit to joining that crowd — both shows were favorites of mine as a youth. And as someone who remembers what TV was like before MTV, I’m still a sucker for news about the oldies.

 Whether you wax nostalgic for “The Waltons,” “The Jeffersons,” or countless other golden oldies, consider checking out these feeds for keeping the good old times alive. 

• Classic Television Blog: This blog is packed with interesting details on a wide variety of shows, with resources on how you can watch or buy certain episodes online.
• Classic Television Showbiz: If you have a taste for the really obscure and/or vintage moments in television, this blog is for you. Just scanning the titles of posts will start you on a great walk down memory lane.
• Brilliant But Cancelled: This blog from Television Without Pity has fun with shows that might become “classics” one day. And some of us like our shows on the cheesy side, despite what the critics say!
• TV Listings: This feed is essential for every TV watcher, no matter your programming tastes.  Browse listings for your favorites, and use it to plan ahead for some entertaining couch time. 

Bonus: With these treats on your My Yahoo! page, you’ll become a shoo-in to win Trivial Pursuit – TV edition.

 Apps mentioned in this post:

• Add Classic Television Blog
• Add Classic Television Showbiz
• Add Brilliant But Cancelled
• Add TV Listings

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

Consumer Recalls & Peace of Mind

Child safety seats. Toyota cars. Pringles potato chips. All three have been the subject of recent recalls because of concerns about consumer safety. But if you hadn’t watched the news to learn about the Pringles recall, how would you know whether the snacks in your pantry might make you sick? 

Fortunately you can subscribe to feeds from various consumer watchdogs and monitor them on your My Yahoo! page. Here are some good examples to consider:

• The Food and Drug Administration — Recalls/Safety Alerts: This information from the U.S. government keeps you current on a wide range of possible food safety issues.
• Safercar.gov — Vehicle Recalls: This roundup from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration includes announcements about specific car models and components that may have safety concerns.
• Justia’s Auto Recalls Homepage: You can actually browse and select an RSS feed that is specific to your vehicle’s manufacturer by going directly to the website.
• Household Product-Related Recalls: This feed from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission covers possible safety issues on everything from window shades to tea kettles.

You can also explore the sites above for specific recall updates on drugs, dietary supplements, or children’s products, among others.  Subscribing to any of the above feeds will make it much easier to keep tabs on safety information for everyone in your household.
 
Apps mentioned in this post:

• Add Food and Drug Administration — Recalls/Safety Alerts
• Add Safercar.gov — Vehicle Recalls
• Add Justia’s Auto recalls Homepage
• Add Household Product-Related Recalls

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

Internet vs. Forces of Nature

Tsunami, “Snowmaggedon”, earthquakes, and homes in California are slipping into mud maelstroms. Storms come in all shapes and sizes, and that means they can effect just about anyone. If you want to feel prepared and informed, there are some great ways to get natural disaster information quickly through My Yahoo!:

• The Yahoo! News: Weather News feed takes information from various sources and compiles the latest as quickly as any place online.
• Dr. Jeff Master’s WunderBlog is run by someone whose passion and knowledge are almost overwhelming. Images, scientific explanations, and in-depth info on disasters both well-known and under reported are all included.
• Ken Kaye’s Storm Center focuses on hurricanes the science of weather prediction. You will find detailed reporting on current storms as well analysis of the politics and science behind prevention.
• The Weather Channel’s Weather Blog offers friendly and informative explanations to general questions, such as “What’s different this hurricane season?”.
• The source of all sources for weather is probably the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration feed for monitoring storms and other disasters. This is generally where others get their information (like TV news) so why shouldn’t you?

The exchange of information has stirred people to action. May these resources help you feel connected to the plight of the people of Chile and Haiti and their path to recovery.

Apps showcased in this post:

• Add Yahoo! News: Weather News
• Add Dr. Jeff Master’s WunderBlog
• Add Ken Kaye’s Storm Center
• Add The Weather Channel’s Weather Blog
• Add National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Jay – My Yahoo! Editorial