Back to Bald Basics for the 4th

Happy birthday, America! And Canada, America's biggest suburb! Now, with socialized medicine! Silly Canadians!

But I had my recent health care experience here, in the United States of America, the best country in the world. Because I have health insurance, and HMOs make health insurance fun!

My primary care physician gave me a referral to a dermatologist for a mole mapping exercise. I always feel a little nervous about the first trip to a new doctor. How do I know this guy (or gal) is any good?

Well, this dermatologist tells you right there in the waiting room with not one but two New York Magazine covers from issues about New York's best doctors.

As I handed in my first-time-visit form, I got a closer look at the New York Magazine plaques on the wall: "Best hair transplant surgeon."

I think maybe my primary care physician, with his full head of near-hippie hair (and occasional leather pants), is trying to tell me something.

(Thanks to "the traveler" for the photo.)