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Cleaned Out, Nue York in Paris, Don’t Call

Clinic du Trocadero - Paris, FranceClinic du Trocadero – Paris, France

A Colon, but NOT Adrian's!A Colon, but NOT Adrian’s!

CLEANED OUT, BUT NOT OUT OF POCKET

I’d never had a colonoscopy before, in spite of the fact that many members of my family have died of colorectal cancer. It was one of those dreaded procedures that is easy to put off until one day you find out you shouldn’t have. After attending the family reunion in June and discovering the sad news about our family history, it was enough to prompt an appointment with a doctor, who by sheer coincidence has his office just steps away on the same street from where we lived when we first moved to Paris in the 17th arrondissement.

The point of the story is not to get too medically personal, but to once again thank the French health care system for a job well done at an affordable price. With the exception of the “bitchy” receptionist who was arguing with a patient when I came up to the “Accueil” (reception desk) and needed to race to the toilet after having drunk two liters of MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution) (who later had a big smile on her face when I left), everyone I encountered was kind, pleasant and professional. One young handsome fellow who was there solely to prep me, couldn’t wait to find out where I was from and practice his English. I asked him (in English) why the receptionist was in such a bad mood and he replied, “Maybe she doesn’t like her job very much!” (I get that.)

The whole procedure took about two hours and with general anesthesia, all I had were good dreams. When I awoke, an aide brought me tea and madeleines (of course!). I conferred with the doctor who discussed the findings, and they presented me with a full report including photos of my colon (yuck) and stomach (another yuck). I was released after making the payments and when a friend was there to sign that I was in her care…they didn’t want me to venture out of the clinic on my own.

The initial appointment during which the doctor/surgeon scheduled the procedure at a clinic cost 100€. He then referred me to an anesthesiologist with whom I instructed to pay a visit a few days before the procedure. That was another 90€. The medication to take in advance of the procedure was almost all paid for by the French social security, except for 18,50€ of it. When I arrived at the clinic, the charge for the clinic was 43€ (I almost laughed). For the doctor, the procedure was 500€ and the anesthesiologist was another 250€. Social security will reimburse me for most of it and what is not “scheduled” or what is called “BRSS” — “Base de Remboursement Sécurité Sociale — will be paid by my “mutuel” insurance that tops it up to 100% coverage with no deductible. The premiums are about one-third of what they would be in the U.S.

Michael Moore in Trumpland

Am I happy with French health care? Hell yes. Want to hear something seriously sad about U.S. healthcare? A 2012 U.S. study showed that “more than 130,000 Americans died between 2005 and 2010 because of their lack of health insurance.” The night before the procedure while drinking the MoviPrep, I watched Michael Moore’s new film, “Michael Moore in TrumpLand” (you can watch it free on Youtube.com).

In a Forbes.com review of the film, it reports: “Its second half is a full-throated defense of Hillary Clinton, including a recap of how she was viewed/treated in her early days as First Lady when she tried to get universal healthcare in America. The healthcare industry remains something of a defining trait of our problematic system. Moore makes the case that one million Americans have died in the last 20 years specifically because we didn’t get universal coverage. It’s a stark reminder of how good the GOP has been over the last 25 years at preventing would-be economic progress, backing Dems into unpleasant positions, and then blaming the government for the result.”

Moore made the case for countries like France that have universal health care programs and as an American living in France who has benefitted, I can say honestly it’s one very good reason to be here!

NUE YORK COMES TO PARIS 11/11

Nue York, the Book, Signing at Club Rayé November 11thNue York, the Book, Signing at Club Rayé November 11th

Club Rayé

I am pleased that so many of you have followed the photography projects of my daughter, Erica Simone, since like a good and proud mother, I’ve featured news about her various projects and accomplishments in Parler Paris. I must admit, that I never dreamed I’d be proud of my daughter being featured in Penthouse Magazine (!), although it was a three-page “exposé” of her “Nue York” self-portraits, not of her posing for Penthouse (thank goodness!). At the same time, Photo Magazine ran eight pages in their April 2016 issue highlighting the “body” of her work alongside such illustrious photographers as Spencer Tunick and Russell James.

This past year, she launched a book of 50 of the images from the Nue York collection, published by Italian publisher, Damiani: “Nue York: Self Portraits of a Bare Urban Citizen.” A few of the pages can be viewed on their site.

Damiani writes about the book: “Questioning how we express ourselves with clothing and fashion, Erica Simone (born 1985) creates surprising self-portraits as she goes about everyday life entirely in the nude. On the busy streets of New York City we see Simone riding the subway and walking the streets of Chinatown, all the while wearing nothing but her skin.”

In many of her interviews, she cites growing up in Paris as influential on her open attitude toward nudity. (Why are we not surprised?) When asked: “Have you had any issues with censorship in promoting your work? Or exhibiting in a gallery?” in Young Naturists America, she responded with “Galleries would never censor my work — that would be ironic! Internet magazines and certain conservative newspapers have for sure, but mostly American ones. The European press is much more liberal about nudity.” And it is not surprising that her personal mantra  is: “My mantra is simply to always remain open, connected, loving, giving and free spirited.”

You are cordially invited to Nue York’s first book-signing in Paris…! For all of you interested in meeting the artist and learning more about how Erica does what she does, you and all of your friends are invited to Club Rayé http://clubraye.com/ Friday, November 11th, from 7 to 9 p.m. This is your chance to get your signed copy of the book, NUE YORK! Do stop in and share a cocktail with us!

Club Rayé
26 Rue Dussoubs
75002 Paris
Phone: 01 40 13 72 93
7 to 9 p.m.
Friday, November 11, 2016

DO NOT CALL

Vonage Phone Equipment and InstallationVonage Phone Equipment and Installation

Do Not Call

I have a Vonage phone that has a U.S. number and rings here in France. It’s an account created as long ago as 2004. They supplied a router that I brought to Paris from the States (it must be sent to a U.S. address) and installed on my Internet equipment and phone. The idea is that anyone calling from the U.S. or Canada, can basically reach me here directly, on a land line.

The information about each call is recorded so I have a complete record of each incoming and outgoing call by phone number, time, etc., and when someone leaves a message, a transcript is sent by email. So, even it not at my desk, I don’t miss an important call. It’s very efficient and worthwhile — especially for anyone doing business in France with North Americans, as their calls to France are normally free or inexpensive to another North American number (with the prefix +1). In addition, the business appears to be American, even though the calls are received in France (or anywhere the phone is set up). Plus, we find that North Americans don’t always understand how to phone internationally using the system that Europe set up where there is a country code (such as +33 for France) and then a number that usually starts with “0” that must be dropped when the country code is added.

For example, if the number you dial within France is 01.23.45.67.89, when dialing from outside France, one must dial +33.1.23.45.67.89. From the U.S. the + is replaced with 011, therefore the number would be 011.33.1.23.45.67.89 and from within Europe, the + is replaced by 00, hence the number would be 00.33.1.23.45.67.89. I know it’s confusing. Once you get it, you get it, but getting it can be like unraveling spaghetti.

The point is that Vonage has made this easy for anyone calling from the U.S. or Canada, but the problem is that the phone, unless I physically turn it off, will ring all through the night because it is assumed that the phone is in the U.S. In my case, the number is a California number (you can choose an area code) and so as you can guess, with California nine hours earlier, the calls come in just when I’m sound asleep.

Many of the calls aren’t business at all and are solicitation calls no one wants, so imagine waking up at 3 a.m. only to find a recording on the other end that is of no interest? Fortunately, the Federal Trade Commission of the U.S. very simply and easily allows you to register your phone number so that you’ll never get these unwanted calls again.

It’s called “Do Not Call:”

    The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free.

    You may file a complaint if you received an unwanted call after your number was on the National Registry for 31 days.

    Scammers have been making phone calls claiming to represent the National Do Not Call Registry. The calls claim to provide an opportunity to sign up for the Registry. These calls are not coming from the Registry or the Federal Trade Commission, and you should not respond to these calls.
    
It took only a few moments to register the number. So, let’s hope I’m not woken up again with an unsolicited call! If you’re interested in a Vonage account, we’ll each get a $50 e-gift card to use at the retailer of your choice if you allow me to make the referral! Simply email me at: [email protected] (You are under no obligation!)

A la prochaine…

Adrian Leeds - staunch liberal

Adrian Leeds
Adrian Leeds Group

 

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House Hunters International - High Above The Cote dAzur

P.S. Our newest episode of House Hunters International airs on October 27th. “High Above The Côte d’Azur – Season 97, Episode 11” — Thursday Oct. 27 10:30 p.m. EST9:30 CST and Friday Oct. 28 1:30 a.m. EST12:30 A.M. CST: “Francophiles Todd and Jim want to purchase a vacation home in Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Rivera. The area is known to be very chic, and the asking prices for properties overlooking the Mediterranean are as impressive as the views. Can Todd and Jim’s budget afford them the view of their dreams?” SPECIAL REQUEST: Can someone please record it so I can view it that day!?? Many thanks!

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