The miracle is that the Hoyas scored as many points as Syracuse after forty minutes of play.
It is only right that the Orange won in overtime, because they dominated the Hoyas. They named Onuaku the game MVP, but in my opinion it was Dievendorf’s five threes that killed us. I am still at a loss as to how the Hoyas managed to put the game into overtime.
Apparently, there are many provisions in the “economic stimulus package” which regulate health care. I have heard that one of these will require a cost-benefit analysis for expensive procedures. The years a patient could be expected to live would be assigned a monetary value. Then this amount would be measured against the cost of the procedure.
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I do not know if this provision has in fact been enacted into law. Perhaps a knowledgeable P. & B. D. reader could chime in on that question.
The idea of measuring the years of a person’s life in dollars reminded me of something Bl. Columba Marmion wrote about the priesthood:
The goal for a priest is for an unbeliever to consider his life utterly worthless.
The priesthood only makes sense by the light of faith. Without faith, a priest’s life appears to be a complete and total waste.
So my goal is: When it comes time for health-care dollars to be allocated according to a cost-benefit analysis of productivity and quality of life, I hope the experts will value my life at no more than $5.00 per year.
My health-care allowance will cover two tubes of toothpaste annually (or one tube, plus dental floss). If it’s more than that, then I have not been following my vocation properly.
Father Mark White Blog 
The closest I could find to the provision in the stimulus bill you described was in Sec. 3015: DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO INTEGRATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INTO CLINICAL EDUCATION.
“provide for the collection of data regarding
the effectiveness of the demonstration project to be
funded under the grant in improving the safety of
patients, the efficiency of health care delivery, and
in increasing the likelihood that graduates of the
grantee will adopt and incorporate certified EHR
technology, in the delivery of health care services;”
Of course, part of the problem is that nobody really knows what is and isn’t in the bill. I’m starting a rumor (right now) that there is a provision in there that will subsidize “sports and religion” bloggers. Congratulations!
Dear Fr. White,
I hate to tell you this, but toothpaste is actually a luxury. It is adequate to mechanically disrupt dental plaque with a dry toothbrush. In addition, it is necessary to use dental floss to disrupt interproximal plaque. Therefore, I think it is fair to say that one could lower your yearly allowance to a two dollar bill. Note: One could argue that the use of toothpaste is more charitable, however, it seems that you have not requested funds for soap, so why bother.
Most sincerely,
Grace Morrison, D.D.S.
It’s very refreshing to find a priest with who shares Christ through the innovation of James Naismith’s peach basket diversion. And a Jesuit no less. Will miracles never cease? Well done, padre!
Despite the fact that I spent a lot of years rooting for Lou Carnesecca, Chris Mullin and the St. John’s Redmen to spin the Patrick U and the Dawgs right off the planet… I like your blog. Now if you will travel out here to Moraga, we’d like to put your faith to test on the court of McKeon Pavilion against the mighty Gaels of St. Mary’s!
Yes dear friar, there is basketball west of the Mississippi. Bring it on! (And keep up your blog.)
peace
Regarding the healthcare provisions in the “stimulus” package, who the heck knows! I believe the provision which directs billions of $$ toward digitizing medical records and authorizing a National Coordinator for Health Information Technology was included. What that means vis a vis “cost analysis”, I don’t know – probably not good. Maybe we should call Speaker Pelosi to ask her…oh yeah, that’s right, she’s off to Italy. I’d call Senator Mikulski, but I think the 8 inch, 1,071 page bill is still sitting in her in-box. Best bet would be to go on the White House website — I think the President said all bills would be on the site for 1-2 days for the American people to read before signing (NOT!) They didn’t even give the Congress that long to read it. All I can say for sure is, we better keep on praying!!
Aside from the cost of health care, I can’t help but speak of the eternally invaluable worth of “soul care”. I will never forget, Father White, the beautiful bullseye tribute you gave to Monsignor Hughes when he left St. Marys.
I know personally of someone who had been away from the church for many years. One weekday he mustered the courage to approach Monsignor after morning Mass and asked to go to confession. Monsignor did not tell him to come back on Saturday afternoon between 4:00 and 5:00 pm.; rather, he NEARLY RAN to get his purple stole and hear this person’s confession. This is the priceless value of a priest.