I read a story the other day about an endangered species and wondered: Just how many endangered species are there, anyway?
As of May 28, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services listed 1,959 threatened or endangered species — 1,210 animals and 749 plants.
In Florida, there are 59 animals on the list (examples: Florida panther, red cockaded woodpecker) and 55 plants (examples: Key cactus tree, ziziphus).
The list updates daily. You can see it at www.fws.gov/Endangered/wildlife.html#Species. There are links to the overall number of species, as well as breakdowns by state or territory.
Doctors limiting practices
Why are doctors deciding to start charging $1,500 to $1,800 per year to have health care? I heard this is what's happening in Miami.
Likely what you've heard about is the relatively small number of primary care physicians across the country who have decided to limit themselves to a set number of patients. They feel overloaded by the number of patients they must see daily in order to generate their expected income and cover expenses under current insurance reimbursement rates.
To make up the difference in revenues, they charge their patients an annual retainer fee in return for a guarantee of prompt, personalized service. Fees and requirements vary widely, but physicians with one large Florida-based network charge fees in line with those you cite.
Such limited practices are not without controversy. Medical professionals who object to limiting practices say it smacks of elitism and express concern about the moral implications of severing relationships with patients who either can't afford, or don't wish, to pay retainer fees.
Doctors who advocate such care say it allows them to develop good working relationships with their patients and focus on preventive care. They also say they make sure patients who don't choose to join their fee-limited practices end up with other doctors.
Jeff Goldblum's resume in brief
The show Law & Order: Criminal Intent has a new actor as a detective named Jeff Goldblum. He used to have his own sitcom, but I can't remember the name of it. Please help.
Before joining Criminal Intent, Goldblum's most recent regular TV work was in the 2007 series Raines, where he played a detective who could talk to the dead. He had a recurring role in the seventh season of Will & Grace. And close to 30 years ago he co-starred with Ben Vereen in the action comedy TenspeedandBrown Shoe.
Goldblum, 56, also has appeared in such movies as The Big Chill, Jurassic Park, The Lost World-Jurassic Park, The Fly, Earth Girls Are Easy and Independence Day.
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