Good morning, all.  Yesterday was frustrating.  Not in the gardens--they are fine.  Rather we had an irritating problem with the cable and computer that has continued for the last week and a half.  The TV reception suddenly started breaking up and/or would suddenly wink in and out.  At the same time the computer service would suddenly quit.  Both services are with Comcast.  The company is supposed to send out someone to look into the matter but I am not all that encouraged by that.  The representatives we talked to seemed more interested in selling us some kind of wiring insurance.  They made the appointment reluctantly with the warning that if they didn't find anything wrong with their stuff we would be charged for the visit.  We are just about fed up.  This is the second time this year we have had interruptions for more that a week.  And they came out last year on the same problem.  I don't know what is wrong but after several years of very good service things have changed.  We are nearly ready to seriously explore other service providers.

This story doesn't really surprise me over all--just in some of the details.  I wonder what kind of arguments the dentist or office manager used to persuade a parent to have a 4-year-olds tooth crowned.  A 4-year-old??? I followed this link to even more horrifying details.  That four-year-old was treated without parental consent and at school.  I have commented before that there are some areas which are simply not compatible with 'capitalism.'  Medicine, dentistry, and most government functions are among them.  The drive for profits can actually lead to less than efficient and satisfactory services.  Someone gets the profits but most involved get the shaft.