Subaqua Sternal Rubs

Become a Republican

Carsten — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 03:43:24 +0000

In a rare foray into politics, I am urging all Americans to become a Republican. (Warning: Not safe for children or anyone with any supratentorial activity, just like the Republican party.)

The Dangers of Drug Trials

Carsten — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:38:38 +0000

Volunteer speaks of "horror" effects in drug trial (Alternate coverage in German) - "First they began tearing their shirts off complaining of fever, then some screamed out that their heads felt like they were going to explode." And people wonder why almost no medications are "Pregnancy Category A" (meaning that drug trials in pregnant humans have proven the drug safe). What drug company would want to double their liability risk?

Young Doctors Learn Quickly in the Hot Seat

Carsten — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 20:16:06 +0000

Young Doctors Learn Quickly in the Hot Seat - "Does grilling medical students with questions make them into better doctors? For years, many professors routinely peppered students with relevant and arcane queries, often embarrassing them. Things may be gentler today, but the practice, referred to as the "pimping" of students, still has its advocates." (via KevinMD.)

While a little bit of "pimping" goes on at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, it is hardly malicious in nature, and most of the time the questions are things we should know, rather than the arcane details asked on exams.

FAQ: Intelligent Design, Designer, Irreducible Complexity and Irreducibly Complex

Carsten — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 19:21:31 +0000

Check out this humorous FAQ by the Intelligent Design Society of Kansas. Among my favorites:

The evidence gathered by Intelligent Design proponents clearly shows that:

Evolution does not happen.

Evolution happens in some cases.

Some evolution is directed evolution.

Natural selection does not work.

Natural selection works in many cases, but not all.

Microevolution does not happen.

Microevolution is evidence of directed evolution.

Macroevolution does not happen.

Macroevolution is evidence of directed evolution.

Life was created 6000 years ago.

Life was formed over millions or billions of years through design and the processes of directed evolution.

Life was formed over millions or billions of years through design, and the processes of directed and undirected evolution.

Basically, we think something is wrong with the theory of evolution, we're just not sure what.

WordPress Upgraded to 2.0.2

Carsten — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 03:50:56 +0000

WordPress 2.0.2 has been released this week, and fixes some recently discovered security issues. This site was upgraded last night, and seems to be running normally. Let me know if you have any issues. (OK, so this really was just a test post to see if everything (including LJ syndication) was actually working correctly.)

Der Exodus der �rzte

Carsten — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 03:03:29 +0000

Der Exodus der �rzte (In German) - While the medical climate in the US may be less than optimal (or screwed up even), it can't be as bad as Germany where 50% of the doctors that train there leave to practice somewhere else, creating a physician shortage. While a lot emigrate to other European nations, some go to Australia. Who knows - with the way things are in the US, I may end up going "Down-Under" as well. I've visited once, and really enjoyed it. And I would enjoy their more practically-orientated educational model (according to the article), rather than getting mired in all this theoretical BS that no-one ever uses anyways.

The Official Definitive Gomer Rating Scale

Carsten — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:50:09 +0000

Hilarious - The Official Definitive Gomer Rating Scale (PDF). Though I am not sure I am in agreement that peeing on the med student deserves fewer points than anyone else.

Divers discover new crustacean

Carsten — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 01:29:42 +0000

Divers discover new crustacean - "A team of American-led divers has discovered a new crustacean in the South Pacific that resembles a lobster and is covered with what looks like silky, blond fur, French researchers said Tuesday.

Scientists said the animal, which they named Kiwa hirsuta, was so distinct from other species that they created a new family and genus for it."

Language Course

Carsten — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 02:29:02 +0000

Some days, I think I need to take a language course to understand the Grenadians and Vincentians. Sort of like this member of the German Coast Guard.

Halfmoon Officials Confirm Hospital Plans

Carsten — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 21:42:41 +0000

Hmm, transport times for my ambulance corps (I would link the website, but I am kinda ashamed that it hasn't been updated in over 5 years… Oh hell, here it is) may be getting shorter some time in the future:

Halfmoon Officials Confirm Hospital Plans - "Halfmoon officials have confirmed they are in talks with an area health care provider to open a hospital on Route 146, east of Route 9. The new hospital would be a 120 bed facility with a 24-hour emergency room."

Wow, an emergency room that's open 24 hours a day. Isn't that kind of the definition of an ED? "Emergency" facilities that are open 9-5 are called "Urgent Care Clinics," and we definitely already have enough of those in the district. I welcome a place to drop off emergency patients in the district, rather than another Urgent Care that will call at closing time to transport a non-emergency patient that could just as safely travel by private vehicle to the real ED.