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January 23

What is up with Burger King?

Burger King plans beer-selling Whopper Bar in South Beach

The above title is from “usatoday.com” describing a new idea BK has. BK has a history if somewhat trendy thinking. Remember the Subservient Chicken? Then they had the meat+more meat+cheese “no filler” ads. The “I AM MAN” ones were really really good too.

Sadly though most BK outlets seem poorly run. Usually dirtier than their competitors with less efficient staff, I find them lacking when compared. Not always but often enough to notice. Malaysia is the same way! Its too bad as I like their marketing better and some of the food choices are more tasty.

Below is a snippet from the usatoday story but first…. I AM MAN:

Aluminum bottles will keep the beer cold.

By Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY

Gimme a Whopper, fries — and a beer.

Those words are no longer wishful thinking. Friday, Burger King (BKC) will unveil plans to sell beer and burgers at a Whopper Bar — a new BK concept to compete with casual dining restaurants — in Miami Beach's tourist-heavy South Beach. The South Beach Whopper Bar is scheduled to open in mid-February.

Don't look for beer at conventional Burger Kings. That's not in the plans. But more Whopper Bars — which offer an assortment of burgers, toppings and beer — could be on tap in tourist hot spots such as New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, says Chuck Fallon, president of Burger King North America.

A brewski at the new Whopper Bar — served in special aluminum bottles to keep them extra cold — fetches $4.25. Or, order beer as part of a Whopper combo and your bill will be $7.99 — roughly $2 more than the same combo meal with a fountain drink.

Sources: Youtube and USATODAY.com

3:47 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Food and drink

January 14

Mini Rant about healthcare

Most people are aware of health care debates and arguments in the US as well as their own countries. For the US the main thing now is insurance and who you should go to for that insurance….

One side says the government is the best solution for healthcare insurance, the other says private sector (insurance companies).

Those outside the US, such as Malaysia are quite quick to draw comparisons to Malaysian healthcare and even go so far as to imply “why not” [gov ins] even without comparisons. Some say that there is no attempt to remove private insurance in the US but I disagree! You can take their comments (Obama also) at face value about single payer, you can take my word for it, or you can look it up yourself. At best, those proposing/supporting the current plan are in contradiction with their own statements! I doubt opinions change so easily. Those that are pushing for “just” gov run insurance are planning for more. Count on that.

Anywho, the PROBLEM with this comparison is Malaysia doesn’t have the type of system being proposed right now. They have a very strong private insurance market and in fact anyone seeking GOOD medical care in a prompt fashion at a GOOD facility IS opting for private insurance. There is no fine for those without insurance!

Anyway, later, the horribly inefficient government will want to control the actual healthcare provided and not just insurance. Think about that for a bit if you doubt me. Why would the govt NOT want to? Yes, Malaysia has gov run hospitals (or subsidized) but those with CHOICE don’t go. Most of the time folks agree that the best care comes from the private (aka for PROFIT) hospitals. Do you want to trust the same red tape machine that brings you the DMV and Postal Service to run… anything? Those services are actually ok, but have problems bleeding cash.

“But what about the children?”

You cannot guilt me into siding with anyone on policy issues. Nearly everyone without coverage has SELECTED not to have it. Yes, its pricey but until I see poor people NOT smoking and NOT having DishTV/Cable or expensive cars I will contend bad choice is a larger problem. Exceptions? You bet, but there are existing methods to deal with those. This is a side topic though…

Another criticism of US healthcare is the QUALITY of care. I hear this from Malaysians also – no doubt based on some news report or rumor. I can dismiss this easily. How? The punchline to this rant:

Malaysian healthcare SUCKS at some levels. There are talented knowledgeable folks but many are behind the times and dismissive of current methods. I can say this without reservation because the majority DO NOT WEAR GLOVES (and some other things). It is amazing to me that nurses and doctors routinely ignore protocol and are not wearing gloves with drawing blood, giving shots, or doing exams. Not required in some situations but since I never see them washing their hands either… errr… wear ‘em!

Proof they do not? Well to be sure its MY observation but I have had more exposure during my short stay in Malaysia than in any similar period in all my prior years in the US. Some for me, some for others..

4+ clinics – gloves? Not so far when giving “jabs”, exams, or drawing blood
6+ hospitals – both gov/priv. Gloves? Not that I noticed other than a cancer wing. Assumed worn for surgery and invasive exams. Fertility staff are the exception! Gloves always.

The most recent example was a nurse that was disconnecting an IV line, but needing to leave the needle for possible use later. The movement or disruption caused some bleeding that she cleaned up with a small swab (alcohol?). This bloody pad was handled with bare fingers as was the paper towels used to clean up the floor and THE EATING TRAY. When asked about gloves the nurse shrugged it off as though she was not concerned for HER safety.

The eating tray is that adjustable/rolling table they use to place your food and medication on… the bloody swab was placed there and the cleanup after was nothing more than wiping it with a dry paper towel. Nurses are not required to take basic courses? At least watch CSI! Amazing how they can approach this sort of thing with attitude from 30+ years ago. Even basic staff outside hospitals are given “blood borne pathogen” training these days.

Want more? After “cleaning” the blood from the table another dry towel was used to wipe away blood from the floor – WITH HER FOOT (shoe was on). The other blood spots remained. The towel was then kicked under the bed and left there for housekeeping. Do you suppose housekeeping had gloves on? ha! I’m the only one to consider their safety probably.

Finally, while I can complain of US costs and payment hassles at least the hospital would treat first and seek payment second… always willing to work out payments if it came to that. Malaysia? Be prepared to pay first! Even emergency admissions are chased for money often.

Below are pictures of the ATM machines at the entrance of a local hospital as well as the blood spots on the floor mentioned earlier… see the paper towel? gaaaa! At least its “cheaper” as they direct you to the ATM.

Do I think Malaysian healthcare can be capable? Get the job done? Have talented people? Sure! But don’t ask me to compare or use as a benchmark. I know others have not used gloves in other places also… but I’m not the one asking for a comparison.