Historians debate the actual origin of...

the aphorism "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions" but we're going to see a living example of how that works starting today.

For years, the members of Congress, at the behest of the medical lobby, has passed what's been known as the "doc fix" every year.  This kept Medicare reimbursement rates from being cut.  While doctors complain that the reimbursement rates have been frozen for years, the truth is that they should have been cut back years ago.  Not from the standpoint of what doctors deserve for treating Medicare patients, but based on the parameters of the program as it was legislated.

As a result reimbursement rates paid to Medicare doctors will go down by 26.5% today and depending on how the fiscal cliff thing ends up being worked out in detail, perhaps as much as 28.5%.  The intent of Congress in making sure the doctors were paid the higher rates was a good one but now look at the result.

I stayed home last night and went to bed shortly after midnight.  Today will be a quiet day for the most part.  I need it to be.  I have four different appointments at the VA on Wednesday and will be going to play trivia that evening, so it's going to be a long day.

Things I'm pondering on the first day of 2013 include:

What the heck is a "forest moon" anyway?  This year will be the 30th anniversary of the release of "Star Wars Episode VI:  Return of the Jedi" where part of the movie takes place on the "Forest Moon of Endor".

Why don't the actors and producers of TV shows where an actor leaves the show just tell us the real reasons for the departure?  They decided that the character's storyline had run out, the actor wanted to move on, there was a conflict between so and so, and so and so.  They lie and there's no real need to lie.

Do people who go to fast food restaurants actually pay attention to the calorie/fat/other data information that is now posted about the food?  I remember years ago going to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and asking for the dietary info about the meal I was about to order and when I saw just how many calories and how much fat was in it I went next door to Subway.

What in the world is the purpose of a new CA state law that bans using dogs to hunt bears and bobcats?  Is there some kind of mutant dog that's big enough to take on a bear or bobcat?

Do the elected idiots who pass laws in Sacramento think raising the fine from $5,000 to $10,000 for staging fights between animals or animals and humans will really do anything to discourage people from doing this?  If so, maybe they'd be interested in buying the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

Will anyone applying for a job with a private employer who gets asked for their passwords for social media accounts actually refuse to provide the password, now that it's illegal to ask in CA?  Or will they just fear not complying will mean they have no shot at the job.

There's a new state law that requires the parents of infants 1 month old or younger to have a doctor's permission before an entertainment work permit will be granted for the child.  So once a baby is one day and one month old, the doctor's permission is no longer needed?  Why in the world did they draw the line at one month of age?

Was it hard for Fred Willard to complete the diversion program he had to enroll in, to avoid going to trial on a lewd conduct charge?  Did he accept the free computer for future use of internet porn?

Am I the only person who saw the headline "Erika Menendez arrested" and wondered if Lyle's brother was now his sister?

How many times in 2013 will the man who sits in "my" seat during first seating meals show up wanting to sit there durin second seating?  Probably a lot.  Because of his dementia, trying to explain the concept of first versus second seating is pointless.

This Date in History:

On this date in 193, the Roman Senate chose Pertinax, against his will, to succeed Commodus as Emperor.
On this date in 404, an outraged mob of Romans tore Telemachus, a Christian monk to pieces when he tried to stop a fight between gladiators.
On this date in 1502, the Portuguese first explored what is now the location of Rio de Janeiro.
On this date in 1772, the first traveler's checks were issued.
On this date in 1800, the Dutch East India Company is dissolved.
On this date in 1804, French rule ended in Haiti.
On this date in 1808, the importation of slaves into the U.S. was banned.
On this date in 1833, the United Kingdom exerts sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
On this date in 1847, the Sisters of Mercy found the first ever Mercy Hospital, in Pittsburgh.
On this date in 1890, the first Tournament of Roses parade was held.
On this date in 1899, Spanish rule ends in Cuba.
On this date in 1902, the first ever college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl is held.
On this date in 1908, the first ever "ball drop" in Times Square takes place.
On this date in 1962, the U.S. Navy SEAL program is established.
And, on this date in 1735, Paul Revere, silversmith and patriot, is born.