Shock and Awe

Watchmen

2009-03-09T15:25:00.005-04:00

Saturday night I saw the highly anticipated movie Watchmen. I really enjoyed it. Not everyone I went with felt the same way though.

Here are the few cons I have heard from people so far. Its about 2 hours and 45 minutes long. The movie is also all over the place as it tries to tell its story through an interweaving path of past and present using retrospective flashbacks.

Before I mention all the things I liked I just wanted to point out that this movie is based on a graphic comic strip series/novel. Zack Snyder, who also directed another graphic novel known to everyone as 300, supposedly used the comics as his bible for making this flick. He did the best job he could to interest your average movie-goer, while still trying to satisfy the comic afficionado that will be sure to knit-pic every detail of the movie. Synder also made sure he didn't pull any punches with blood and gore. The comic was filled with fighting, blood, and sex.......so that's how the movie goes as well. The action sequences are amazing, filmed with that 300 and Matrix style of mixing stop-action photography with real-time frames to make even the smallest detail of the fight choreography seen by the audience.

As for the long running time, I can see how some people could get a little agitated after sitting in the same place for so long, but for me the time flew by. The beginning starts a little slow for a few minutes as they introduce the characters and some of the back story, but they make up for it.

I really love talking about it, but I definitely don't want to give anything away for those who have not seen it. I will just say that I like that they are able to make a super-hero movie that is a little different than the rest. Are they heroes? Are they vigilantes? I can promise you one thing though, the movie will not go to where you think it is taking you.

Will it win an Oscar? Not in one of the major categories, but it definitely is a visual and auditory cinematic experience to see. Enjoy!

How Can You Say Scientific and Medical Progress Is a Distraction?

2009-03-09T12:14:00.003-04:00

Parkinson's Disease. Diabetes. Cancer. Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis. These are some of the most debilitating and prevalent diseases of our time. They are also some of the disease or injuries that could possibly be reversed or even wiped out if stem cell research progresses as we hope. Now there are no promises, but without trial there can be no success. Some of the greatest medical discoveries ever, such as penicillin, were discovered by accident or by tinkering towards another goal.

What am I babbling about? Today President Obama overturned President Bush's law that limited stem cell research to only the 60 embryonic stem cell lines that were currently available. This was never enough.......not nearly enough. Now I know the theological and ideological argument about using and creating embryonic stem cells for research. I can appreciate the argument against it, the same way I can appreciate someone's pro-life arguments. For me though, it's all about the science.

My grandfather Morton was one of the biggest influences in my life. I look like him, I got my humor from him, and to this day he still inspires me. Unfortunately, Morton was taken from us WAY too early by complications from Hepatitis C. What he really needed to keep him around was a new liver. With a SEVERE shortage of livers to be transplanted, lets just say a 70+ year old male was not high on the national list. What if we could just have grown him one? And that's just one example of my own personal family experiences with such diseases. With almost 24 million Americans with diabetes, 1.5 million Americans with Parkinson's Disease, and almost a half of million US deaths from Cancer alone just last year, we NEED this! And this is just the US!

Is stem cell research the answer?? I don't know that yet. I do know that some amazing things have already been done with stem cells that nobody thought was possible.......see my previous post. If you could keep a loved one healthy, if you could keep Alzheimer's from degrading someone's mind to the point of being unable to recognize their own child or spouse, if you could give back the power to walk to someone who feels trapped by a wheelchair..........wouldn't you?

I know the issue is about it being embryonic stem cells and not just stem cells in general, but for now this is our best chance for such advances. So if you are just totally against this, then there is nothing I can do and I hope for everyone's sake that you never find yourself in one of those horrific positions that might change your mind. However, to Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia who said, "Why are we going and distracting ourselves from the economy? Let's focus on what needs to be done"................I say we are trying, stop trying to get in the way. You know what's distracting...... death and disease and losing the ones we love. Look around man, nobody is saying the economy is stable or secure and that it should be ignored. In fact, it's safe to say IT IS our national #1 priority. But since the economy and money seems to be the only thing on your mind Mr. Cantor......this act will even bring new jobs as well.

Finally, Doctor on the Rise!

2009-03-06T09:27:00.004-05:00

Nope, not a physician yet. I still have two years (plus a few months) before I can throw the D.O. behind my name and start to actually be considered a doctor. However, this semester has definitely made me feel better about the path chosen.......that there might actually be a light at the end of the tunnel, one that leads me out of the classroom and library and into the hospital.

The first great experience this semester was the autopsy. We did not get to actually perform one, as most of them are government/county positions, but we did get to watch four or five performed. It's not pretty. In fact, it's actually pretty gruesome. I have colleagues who claim to have the most steel-lined of stomachs who had to take a few moments and head outside. It could be the smell, it could be the way the bodies are cut up to find the pathology behind the death, or it could be that they had loved ones who had to go through the same thing. All valid reasons to be a little queasy. For me though, it just made things seem all the more real. You hear about all the ways that people can be killed, or kill themselves, but when it's posted on CNN or heard on the radio it seems very removed. We saw deaths from motor vehicle accidents, drug/alcohol overdose, suicide, and many more. Please people........be careful, be cautious......it doesn't make you lame.

The next experience was the trigger point lab. A trigger point is a hyper-irritable place on the body, related to the musculoskeletal system, that usually manifests as a palpable nodule made up of taut muscle fibers. A trigger point injection is usually a combination of an anesthetic and steroid that lasts in the body for about 3 months or so. Now I have a lot of experience giving shots when I was a medical assistant, but this is slightly different. You have to give about 4 or 5 injections, all around this trigger point, without taking the needle back out of the body. So the key is to take it out of the muscle, but still leave it in the skin. This was no big deal with the huge lumbar back muscles, but when you have to do it into the muscle or ligaments around an ankle or elbow joint things get a little more tricky. However, musculoskeletal pain is so prominent that this will be a great tool to have in the 'ole doctor arsenal.

The most recent experience was getting to draw some blood from my fellow classmate. Phlebotomy is something that I, and I am sure most people, take for granted. Nobody likes giving blood, but when you go to the doctor to do so, you never really think about what is involved. Most of the lab technicians, medical assistants, or physicians are quite good at it, but most people have had that one experience where they cannot find a vein and you get stuck multiple times. I was able to get it on the first stick on my partner, but he had some very prominent veins to use. It is going to be a scary experience that first time I have to do it on a hospital patient who is extreme pain or discomfort or a someone whose veins are hard to find.

The best experience of all though is when we go to IGC. It stands for something silly, but basically it is when we go shadow a doctor once a week. Depending on who your doctor is, you might get to do most of the patient exams. And my doctor is the shit. He basically hands me a chart and I get to do everything from the exam, to the diagnosis, and even start writing the prescriptions. Sure he checks my work and makes any changes he needs to, but when those patients leave the office, they tend to thank me as much as the doctor himself. That feels good.

So starting in July, I get to start rotations. This will be a month or two in each of many specialties in medicine including: Internal, Pediatrics, Family Med, ER, Surgery, Psych, Rural med, OB/GYN, etc. I might even get to work at a prison for a month or so. This is when the real education will start. I will keep yall updated about stuff, like delivering my first baby. Well, not MY baby.......oh you get it.

New (old) Favorite Show

2009-02-25T08:30:00.005-05:00

I will go ahead and admit it. I am addicted to Most Extreme Home Makeover. This show is the shit!!! I had heard about the show previously, but I actually saw It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia mocking it with their "dream boards" before I actually saw the show itself. It took only a single episode and I was hooked.

This show works on multiple levels for me. First of all, there is almost always a great back story to why this particular family is getting this second chance. With almost 15,000 applications per week, I am sure it is not hard to find that tear-jerker of a story. I have seen an episode involving a LAPD police officer who is shot and paralyzed only 12 hours after running a charity race to support police officers hurt in the line of duty....Ironic!!! I just saw an episode where they brought amazing technology (and a new house) to a family where BOTH parents are deaf and they are raising two children.............one of whom is blind and autistic. There was another episode where they changed the life of woman who raised three orphans with AIDS who had been left to die in the government system. On the same note, they built a HUGE house for a single woman who has adopted multiple children with disabilities including: two who only have torsos, one with fetal alcohol syndrome, one with brain damage from trauma, and one with a bone disease where she cannot flex her elbows or knees.

The next reason I am so addicted to this show is the amazing houses they build. Sometimes it might be a more modest duplex to house two homeless families, and other times it might be the most lavish castle because the families' father who died was obsessed with the renaissance era and they wanted to honor him. No matter what the exterior or size, all of the designers spend days (and I am sure weeks of research prior) to make sure each member of the family gets a themed room and the newest technology available to make their lives easier. If a child likes the outdoors, you can expect them to get a bed amongst a canopy of trees. If someone wants to be a pilot, they end up with a mock up of a part of a planes fuselage in their room to hold the flight simulator. I just saw one episode where the main focus was a 22 year old who was recently paralyzed due to a case of mistaken identity from a gang member, and he was given a full voice activated house. He just makes commands to "Anderson" and the house will even send a machine to come lift him out of his chair and carry him to the bathroom or his kitchen.

Finally, I love the designers they picked for the show. While I really like Paige and Tracy, it's the male designers who steal the show. My personal favorites are Paul, Ed, Michael and Preston. Of course I like watching Ty as well, but he is the host so of course he is amazing. It doesn't hurt that he is a good ole Georgia Boy as well. Yes, all of these people are going to be well known for their efforts, and yes they are probably making bank. However, unless they are some amazing actors as well, you can generally see the care and concern they have for each family for which they are working so hard night after night making custom beds, desks, and murals to fit each room. They all are really talented as well. They have their specialities.....design, contruction, fashion..........but they have no problem hanging dry wall or planting some tulips if that is what the project calls for.

The show also has helped me out with issues I may be having as well. If there is a day where I am tired of studying the library, or I am lonely or sad for some reason, it helps me to realize how much better off I have it than so many out there. No I didnt really need a show to know that, but it can never hurt to get the reminder every once and awhile. It makes me want to go out and help as many people as I can. Speaking of which......I am finding out it is actually not as easy to volunteer for certain things as I thought. Six month wait for habitat for humanity!!!

Don't get me wrong. I know I have fallen for scripted banter, the directors' editing of the episodes, and the well composed music that goes along with each tear jerking story. I know some of these people end up losing these houses anyways due to the immediate property values rising through the roof. I don't care.......I am hooked. It's like watching an emotional, super-size version of Monster House. So keep on keeping on Most Extreme Home Makeover......and Move That Bus!!!

Gasparilla........ARRRRR

2009-02-10T08:17:00.006-05:00

As if we Americans need any more reason to gather together in drunken debauchery, I just got back from my first experience at Gasparilla. Before actually seeing the festivities, this event was described to me as a pirate mardi gras. I believe it actually lived up to its description. The one I went to was supposedly the "alcohol free" childrens' parade. Ha Ha. Yeah right. I saw more high schoolers passed out in the lawn than anything (no surprise there). The "adult" parade is this weekend I believe and if they plan to take it to the next "adult" level then I am not sure I would be prepared for it anyways. There is some background history to the event, which I am sure you can google if you are truly interested. Mostly it is just a bunch of rowdy drunks who plan on dressing like a pirate, but end up looking like they got dressed in the local Salvation army.....in the dark. To carry the booze, many people steal shopping carts from the local grocery store and then dress them up to look like pirate ships.

There are many parts to the event: the ship parade, the staged attack on tampa bay by the some locally famous pirate ship, the float parade, VIP parties, etc. However, without getting up super early or having a huge cash flow to be a VIP, you really only see the float parade through its 10 mile+ journey. The entire parade rout is barricaded and people are standing on both sides just grabbing beads as they fly out into the crowd. I actually saw a set of beads fly perfectly onto some guys head and around his neck while he was just standing there talking to his friends. Pretty rad. At least it was at the time.

The rest of the weekend my roomate Aaron and I were basically pampered with food by our buddy Chris' parents. Friday night was Super Lasagna night followed by homemade strawberry shortcake. And after Gasparilla, we arrived back to his house for a feast including filet mignon, homemade Au Gratin Potatoes, fresh bread, and for dessert......another strawberry shortcake, cherry cheesecake, and Italian chocolate decadence cake. 5 months of working out undone in one weekend. But a great weekend it was!

Only 5 or so more exams to go before boards and rotations!!! Here we go!

Kavorkian may want to use his own machine!!!

2009-02-06T11:16:00.003-05:00

So for the past few weeks, I had been pretty excited to see Dr. Jack Kavorkian speak here at Nova. He is a well-known, controversial figure who has created some of the biggest medical ethics questions of our time........a patient's right to die. I have never really taken a stance on the matter, instead relying on federal and state laws to guide my train of thought. I went to this lecture expecting to hear a mix of theological, judicial, and cultural points of view. Instead what I heard was a bitter 81 year old man whose sole argument was that America is the second coming of Nazi Germany. It was like listening to someone with tangential dementia (thoughts all over the place).

It started off, for the first two minutes, as if we were going to get what we came to see. He started listing his three main projects, or causes. They are Patient's Right to Die, Prison Reform, and Education Reform. Then he started giving examples of how America has made decisions and chosen to uphold laws via the supreme court in such a way that we are not a democracy, but a tyranny. I will admit, while I don't agree with that, he made a few intelligent points to back his bold statement.......At This Point!!

Then it goes downhill. For the next 40 minutes, he basically kept trying to prove how America is like Nazi Germany. He found some list of 14 things that defines fascism, and then went through each point to try and correlate how America fits each one. They were such far stretches from anything realistic or logical that people started just leaving by the hordes. It didn't help that this old man couldn't figure out how to use the microphone in front of him and nobody in the back could hear what he was saying for half of it.

One main point that really pissed me off though was when he said that we need to stop calling our American soldiers heroes. I could understand if he meant that just because you are in the military, it does not innately make you a hero......but that was not the case. He thinks that the military is just our U.S. version of S.S. officers, which is amazingly insulting. Well Dr. Death, if they aren't heroes, they at least deserve our respect and praise for doing the tough jobs that my friends and I sure don't want to do.

After a short question and answer section, Dr. Kavorkian ended his not so amazing lecture by raising the American flag. That would be a nice sentiment, except instead of the stars being there to represent the 50 united states........there was a swastika!!!

So there it is folks. A bitter, unorganized, elderly man ranting (mostly incoherently) about how much he hates America.......the country of his residence.....because they put him in prison. This is my favorite, ironic part. Kavorkian was present for over 130 assisted suicides. He set up the machine and let the patients themselves press the button to start the death process. However just once, that we know of, HE DECIDED to press the button to kill the patient. And it was this one time that he decided to videotape it and send it in to 60 minutes. This is what convicted him. So basically, he screwed himself. Way to go Jack, Way to go.

Jurassic Park 4 - Invasion of the US!!

2009-02-02T13:50:00.006-05:00

Someone hacked this traffic warning machine in Indiana. That's hilarious. More so if someone actually changed their course to avoid the Raptors Ahead.

More blogging to come soon.......I am going to see Jack Kavorkian, AKA Dr. Death, speak on campus this Thursday. And yes, he is still alive and not in prison. Should be pretty damn interesting!

Wisence and Wegistwation Pweeeze!

2009-01-27T08:30:00.006-05:00

This is actually pretty amazing. The new story to shock this guy is the one that broke yesterday about a troubled 14 year old boy in chicago who decided to play cop. This 14 year old had originally taken part in a youth program called "police explorers", put on by a division of the chicago police department that allowed interaction between said youths and what we would have hoped were slightly more intelligent police officers. Well yesterday this 14 year old walked in to the police department dressed from head to toe as a cop. The only thing he appeared to be missing were his police stars, an actual gun in the holster, and he had newspaper in the place of a ballistic vest (which was covered by a real vest). Everything else was straight up police-issued.

Now I give the kid credit for having the balls to dress up like a cop and then walk right into the belly of the beast. But it gets better.....................HE WENT ON PATROL. Yes, not a single police officer figured out this kid did not belong. Or maybe they just were too busy or lazy to actually look into their gut suspicion. His reason for being the new guy was that he was transferred for the day from another precinct. Nevertheless, this 14 year old checked out a police radio and a ticket book and then was assigned to another police officer as his "partner" for the day. While he apparently never got behind the wheel or had a chance to write any tickets, he did participate in a full day of traffic stops AND got back to the department to end his shift before anyone finally caught on to his shenanigans.

I don't know what to say about this one. I have the utmost respect for the police (S. Florida cops excluded), but they severely dropped the ball on this one. And as for the 14 year old....I want to say that he made some egregious lapses in judgement, but what he was able to pull off here is pretty amazing.

I Beg of You Hollywood, Please Don't Do it

2009-01-14T14:41:00.003-05:00

Name some good movie sequels......I dare ya! Yeah, I can think of only a few as well. Alien 2. Terminator 2. Maybe a few others.

Ok. Now name good remakes of classics! Psycho with Vince Vaughn? I don't think so. The Day the Earth Stood Still with Keanu? While it was perfect for him as an emotionless alien, it too was nowhere near as good as the original.

So what would you say if I told you that they are ALREADY thinking of remaking one of the finest movies ever to hit the big screen.....The Karate Kid.

Is Ralph Macchio coming back? No of course not, that would be as ridiculous as remaking the movie. Right now they are thinking about Jaden Smith for the role. That's right, Will Smith's 11 year old son. And who would play Mr. Miyagi for the deceased, but brilliant Pat Morita........I am ashamed to even say it.......they are thinking of Jackie Chan.

I could go off on how hollywood has run out of creative ideas, or the many ways in which this would soil the classic version of the movie, but there is no need. So now that I have brought it to your attention I ask you to pray with me for this remake to NEVER be made.

Just to add to this, here are the comments from the karate kid himself today from IMDB:

He is so Cute.....Oh Dear G-D He is Eating My Legs!!

2009-01-10T13:10:00.003-05:00

If anyone has read CNN.com this morning there is a story about Beijing Zoo's own Gu Gu the Panda attacking yet his third victim. Honestly, I do not blame the panda at all. The first two victims are what I like to use as examples of social darwinism. The first attack occurred when a 15 year old climbed into Gu Gu's pen to "get a closer look." Now if this was a toddler, or even a child 10 years old, then I could maybe understand how the panda was only seen as a cute and cuddly teddy bear urging their presence for a long needed hug. However, this was not the case. The second attack came when a drunken tourist decided he wanted to give the panda a hug. No comment needed on this brilliant move. The final attack, of which the article is reporting, came when a father actually just fell in while trying to grab a toy that his young son had been tossing back and forth with him. The toy..........wait for the irony..........a stuffed panda. Like I said, I don't blame the panda as apparently the Beijing Zoo needs to do something more than a five foot barrier to keep people out. Maybe even put some security guards in the area. The most amazing thing about all of this was how the father reacted once he fell in the pen. Since Panda's are considered a national treasure and icon for the country, he didn't want to disgrace himself by hitting Gu Gu or fighting his way out of its clutch. Instead he just sat there and watched as the panda started eating one leg..........then the other.......all the way until zoo authorities used tools to open its jaws and free the poor man. Now that's some national pride.

A little Bit Ironic, Dont Ya Think?

2009-01-08T08:38:00.002-05:00

A colleague of mine, posted this article on facebook for all to see and I could not believe what I was reading. To summarize, there was a pro-palestinian rally held in Ft. Lauderdale in which members of the organization known as ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) was calling for another holocaust. They dont wan't to end racism, or stop war. They want to become the second coming of the nazi party and exterminate the Jewish people and destroy Israel as a whole.

Now I may not be an intelligent guy......Oh wait, Yes I am............but that does not seem to be the sentiment of peace and love. In fact, it's the actual definition of Hypocrisy. It's also a good definition for evil, racism, hatred, and stupidity.

So let's talk about the Hamas-loving, pro-palestinians that these people are throwing their support to. These are people who are shooting rockets off from schools, knowing that any retaliation will be directed back at children.....at their own people. These are people who are using these same children as human shields. These are people that are sending rockets into Gaza hoping it will hit Israelis, even if it just kills more palestinians. If you feel this strongly that you and your country are doing the right thing, then move there......stand on the front lines.......look around at the "Peace" you claim you are working towards.

Obviously I want the fighting to stop. I think everyone in the region needs some serious air conditioning, a cold beer, and a cease fire, but to start calling for the complete extermination of the Jewish people equates you with Hitler. And must I remind you that while he may always be remembered in history, it was not for something noble. Germany, his own country, is ashamed of what happened. And you should be too.

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places!!

2009-01-06T13:18:00.002-05:00

Since I have been single for way too long, and I have no idea why, I am posting this next piece in hopes that you women come to your senses. If you are one of those ladies who has always dated the wrong guy.....the bad boy......the hottie with nothing upstairs.......than I have the solution to BOTH of our problems......

The Top Nine Reasons Why You Should Date A Nerd!!!

To see said reasons why you should be dating me: click here

I know, I know, you are thinking to yourself, "This guy does not seem that nerdy." I get that a lot. I think its my boyish good looks, but believe me I am a nerdy medical student who loves to learn the sciences. So there. I will be taking applications shortly.

PEOPLE CAN NOT BE THIS IGNORANT, RIGHT??!!??

2008-12-26T17:05:00.002-05:00

As seen on CNN:

"A candidate for the Republican National Committee chairmanship said Friday the CD he sent committee members for Christmas - which included a song titled 'Barack the Magic Negro' -- was clearly intended as a joke."

This man is ignorant, racist, stupid, and apparently a sore loser. The only JOKE here is that this man is part of our governing body.

My Holiday Shout Out

2008-12-25T12:22:00.004-05:00

Since the holiday spirit is all around, and since I just saw an amazing movie (Seven Pounds) that definitely makes you wonder what kind of difference you are making in this world, I have decided to give a shout-out. There is a guy who has been working at Phipps Plaza AMC movie theater taking tickets for as many years as I can remember. Now I am not talking about some young kid with braces holding down his first job. This man has got to be around 70 if I had to guess. He could be doing it because he loves the job, or he could be doing it because he unfortunately still needs to produce income, OR BOTH! However, every time I go to see a movie I love seeing that this man is still taking my tickets. He doesn't just rip the ticket and point you in the right direction. First he asks what you are seeing, followed by his personal review of the movie (although he has yet to say "This sucks, dont see it"). Then he ALWAYS makes some joke about the movie, or something I have said. It doesn't have to be a good joke, because it makes me happy anyways. As far as I am concerned, this man is an Atlanta institution. So G-d bless you ticket taker.

PS: Ignore all reviews. Seven Pounds is an amazing movie that will touch you to the core. If you don't cry at least once in this movie, you probably are lacking a soul.

Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Jolly Kwanzaa and a Super Festivus for the Restofus.

A Medical Miracle

2008-11-19T08:11:00.003-05:00

If you haven't already seen the news this morning, I have an amazing medical story for you. Doctors in Barcelona have just successfully transplanted a new windpipe into a 30 year old Columbian woman that was made completely out of her own stem cells. Stem cells are baby cells........undifferentiated into one of the more complex cell structures that makes up our specific organs. Doctors have found a way to take these stems cells and help manipulate it to form a human windpipe. This should be considered amazing in its own right, but since the stem cells came from the patient herself, she will not have to worry about the ever present risk of her body rejecting the transplant.

The woman needed this transplant because she has been suffering from Tuberculosis and her trachea had been stripped of all the cells leaving just connective tissue, and one of her bronchioles was almost completely constricted. In the US alone, there are about 25,000 new cases of TB each year. For this reason, and so many others, is why I support stem cell research. I know there is controversy out there about where the stem cells come from and to each their own, but successful stories such as this one prove that all funding, all research, all testing.......should move forward as fast and as safe as possible!!

I'm a Simple Man!!

2008-11-17T23:37:00.006-05:00

I am just going to go ahead and put it out there.........I hate places that have a bathroom attendant. Via paying my check, buying tickets, or whatever, I probably have already paid for the right to use the bathroom at the facility. I get up from the table and head towards the bathroom hoping for some personal time with the urinal.....waiting to get that amazing feeling as your bladder is voiding. I turn the corner AND THERE HE IS!! He sits there looking all smug, quietly lining up the brut cologne, the scented hand soap, and the Q-tips. I then realize that I all I have is a $20 bill. This leads to the financial dilemma that we have with bathroom attendants. I mean are you supposed to ask for change? I mean it is weird enough for me to have someone turn the faucet on, spray a little soap in my hands, and then hand me a paper towel..........AND THEN expect money for it. It is even worse when you then have to give them a $20 and ask for $19 in change from their plastic tip basket. If they don't have the change then you have to go out to the bar to get some and then come back in to tip the guy OR you just have to look him straight in the eye and walk out without tipping knowing the attendant is trying to drill a hole in your back with laser beams from his eyes. Everyone has to earn a living so it is not the attendants themselves I dislike. However, let all of the bars and clubs of this world know that I hold whether or not you use a bathroom attendant as criteria for where NOT to party. It can change everything........when to "break the seal", how much extra money I have to blow on Golden Tee, can I get that extra cheeseburger at late night McDonald's?!?!? All important things to think about.

Checking In

2008-11-05T09:33:00.004-05:00

It's been almost a month since I put something down on here so I figured I would write some random thoughts:

My friends both in Atlanta and Ft. Lauderdale finally broke me down because I finally saw my first episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia a few weeks ago and its already one of my favorite shows of all time. I have finished the 1st, 2nd, and current season but I still need to go back and see most of the 3rd season. I mean with classics like "The Gang has a Jihad" AND "Charlie has a baby"......how can you go wrong?

Music: Everyone should get the newest CD from Kings of Leon. I had not heard much of their stuff previously, but after hearing the song "Sex on Fire" I was hooked. I also recommend the songs "Closer" and "Use Somebody." My buddy Todd from HOTlanta said I should look into this band named Elbow because the lead singer looks like me. I have to say after checking the band out that I am a little insulted by the appearance reference as the lead singer looks like he has had a few too many cold British winters and few too many nights in the pub, BUT.....the band is actually pretty good.

Working out has become pretty important to me. I will never be one of those people that says they actually enjoy the pain that is cardiovascular exercise, but I am getting pretty addicted to the feeling just after I am done. I think it will take another 2-3 months of dedication to actually get my goal of a six-pack but hopefully I can stay healthy so I can at least try for it. Normally about this point I get some injury that will keep me from running for a few weeks and throw off the workout mojo, but I will keep my fingers crossed!

Finally, since I should continue to pay attention in class today, I will leave you all with one last thing.....

I am psyched about the outcome of last night's election. And that acceptance speech blew me away......which is mostly due of NBC's The West Wing. I watch that show all the time and it inspires me, but what has always made me come back to watch the episodes time and time again was the speeches that Aaron Sorkin wrote for Martin Sheen's fictional President Bartlett. They were eloquent, rousing, and inspirational. I wrote blogs and made jokes about how I would like to see President Bartlett as the actual President of the US......POTUS if you will. All of this because Bush has worn me down.........made me feel that America had lowered the bar for what we expected in the leader of our great nation. And I can not believe we voted him in for a second term!!

Now I know President Elect Obama is just that.......our future president who has not even stepped into office, BUT for about 10 minutes last night I saw and heard everything I had been waiting for over the past 8 years (and more). I saw a man who WAS a candidate, flip the switch and BECOME the office of president. I saw a time in the future where traveling internationally does not come with the question, "Do you like President Bush" with that the tone that says we blame you personally for all foreign policy. I saw 150,000 people turn an acceptance speech into a rally for change on behalf of at least the majority and hopefully soon, the nation. There are many questions still left to answer, and promises to make happen, but we are on our way.

"This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can." -Barrack Obama (and obviously his speechwriters)

That is what I look towards The West Wing for.....what I look towards my president for!

The Immaculate Conception............Of A Shark!!!!

2008-10-10T08:46:00.004-04:00

Now I can not say for sure whether this is an example of evolution, global warming, Chernobyl, or just a good ole fashioned immaculate conception, but scientifically THIS is amazing!!! There are now two examples of aquarium sharks having asexual reproduction.

The first case of this, and I quote "virgin birth", happened at an Omaha Zoo where a hammerhead gave birth to a baby shark. There were no male sharks to inseminate the female. At first this seemed to be an isolated event. It grabbed attention yes, but it may have been slightly blown off as an anomaly or an isolated event.

However, this most recent discovery shows that while this may not be the answer to the sharks' declining population, it still may be the tip of the iceberh of some type of pattern of change for a species that seemed to be evolutionarily unaltered for millions of years. This most recent case occurred in our friend Tidbit, a black tip shark that died last year in a Virginia aqurium. The shark underwent an autopsy since she had died suddenly due to a reaction to the anesthesia during a routine physical exam. During the autopsy vets discovered the embryo of young, black-tip shark amidst gestation. However, there were no male black tip sharks present AT ANY POINT during her life at the aquarium.

Cross-breeding? Evolutionary change? Immaculate conception?

Things that make you go hmmmmmm!

Not a smart move - but NOT suprising!!!

2008-10-08T10:22:00.004-04:00

You knew this fairytale couldn't go on forever. I was shocked yesterday when I went onto IMDB, or another movie/TV gossip website and I saw the headline "Hef Dumps Girlfriend." Now this is not the surprising part. Hef is a young 82 years old, a successful millionare entrepreneur, and well, lets admit it.....an all-around nice guy. So dumping one of the many girls in his harem should not be a big deal.

Now go ahead and guess which one he let go?

You would think it would be Bridgett. I mean she is the oldest and while still fit, in the worst shape of the three as well. And lets be honest....Hef is all about the outer packaging!!

You would think it could be Kendra. While exactly the look Hef wants, she is certifiably crazy. She is always saying really stupid (though possibly edited by E) stuff on camera, still acts like a 16 year old, and seems to have nothing in common to share with her "boyfriend."

BUT NO!!! He dumped Holly!! The girlfriend who had been there the longest of the three. The one who actually shared a bed with Hef and if anyone actually was having sex with him....it was her. On the show she appears to be the most devoted girlfriend ever, claiming to want to have his babies and makes sure to call every 20 mins when away from his side!!

So why is this happening? Because she was stupid enough to cheat on him. She is losing an almost unlimited allowance, life in the mansion, and everything else she has never had to work for........Bad move Holly.......Bad move!!

Hef.......I dont know if you are taking applications for a new girlfriend. I certainly don't fit your preferred profile..........AND I am not into that sort of thing........... but for life in the Playboy mansion........I can try!!

RIP Paul Newman

2008-09-29T09:35:00.003-04:00

On friday we lost one of the finest actors (and salad dressing makers) ever to grace the silver screen. Some of my favorites were Cool Hand Luke (the deviled eggs make me want to puke though), Slap Shot, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Hudsucker Proxy. It is refreshing to see someone who can take Hollywood by storm.......for so so long.....and yet never succumbed to the pressure of the paparazzi, never ended up in people magazine with his c$%k hanging out, and never drove around with his child on the roof of his car. He was a fine thespian, a entrepreneur, and a charitable soul. RIP Paul Newman.

Get Fit 2008 - Update #3

2008-09-17T12:47:00.004-04:00

8/22/08: 190 lbs

8/29/08: 187 lbs

9/6/08: 182.5 lbs

9/16/08: 180.5 lbs

_____________

Total so far: - 10 lbs (well just about)

Total to go: 15 more pounds

I am getting in the rhythm of things I think. I have not be as great about cooking myself healthy meals, but the meals I have eaten out have been (for the most part) pretty decent. I am working out like a mad man though.

In case you are all asking yourselves......RYAN......what are you going to do once you reach your goal weight????? (AND I KNOW YOU ARE!!!)

The answer is that I am going to buy myself a GIANT cookie cake that says "congrats on getting skinny." ------- SWEET SWEET IRONY

102 Minutes that Changed the World

2008-09-15T18:52:00.003-04:00

Yes it has been 7 years since the 9/11 attacks, but in my opinion it will always be a fresh wound. The History Channel put on a documentary recently, with the same name as above, that showed that historic morning in a very different light than what we are used to. There were no celebrities to voice over the action, no catchy music to make you feel emotion that is or is not there.......just raw footage (video, voicemails, phone calls, announcements, etc) of pedestrians, policemen, firefighters, and everyone else who woke up that morning to find themselves at the footsteps of so much evil and yet so much human triumph.

Here are just a few of interesting things I saw.......both good and bad.......the stories you never really saw:

1) At one point you can hear in the background of one video clip, the audio of a man who was SUPPOSED to be in the building that morning, but he was late for work. I am sure there are many examples like him, but you can hear him calling his relieved mother to let her know that he was safe......BECAUSE he was late getting to work due to staying up the previous evening to watch Monday Night Football. He actually says, "Monday Night Football saved my life."

2) I know that I am being hypocritical in saying this since the footage of this event is what I am commenting on, BUT at some point the journalism has got to stop! A police officer, who could have been one of the hundreds or thousands of civil servants recalled from retirement/day off/whatever to help protect the citizens of Manhattan from further damage, is trying to keep some journalists back from ground zero. How is he repaid??? The stupid journalist spends every last breath saying, "What is your badge number, give me your badge number." Its almost comical that in a time like that, he believed the officer was going be afraid of being told on for keeping him away from the towers. And this is before the collapse, so imagine if the cop just gave in.

3) The documentary was made to show the countdown (102 minutes) from the time the first plane hit to shortly after the second tower fell. Now if you google it, you can find out the exact times each tower fell. I was sort of curious as I was watching the film so I went ahead and did just that. It made the viewing experience even that much more intense! I was able to sit there , watch the time roll on the TV screen, watch the fireman prepare to enter the building, AND hear the communication between those who were currently on the 72nd floor of tower 1 rescuing people. I saw the time dated on the film, knew the time of the collapse, and realized that I was probably watching the last video and hearing the last audio that the many of those brave souls would ever produce. Watching them, they had no idea it would collapse. They might have thought it could be a possibility, but if so you could never tell in their faces!! I felt like that person at the movies we all hate....."No dont go through that door, the killer is on the other side." But in this instance, they were going through the door anyways and GOD BLESS THEM!!

4) I could go on forever, but I will leave you with one last quip. I think another area people never think about is the 911 operators that were working that morning. I am sure at some point ALL of Manhattan called to report what was going down. The history channel actually lets us listen to the calls from people trapped inside the building to those operators and it is INSANE! There were all types of interactions. Some of the operators remained calm, went by the book, and did there best to relay positions, injuries, etc to the rescue team. You could hear others who tried their best to follow protocol, but overwhelmed by sorrow, grief, were pretty helpless (which unfortunately is understandable). BUT here is the other side of the spectrum and it makes me sick!!!! There was one recording of a 911 operator who was trying to help at first, but took a completely different direction. He was talking to someone on the 100th floor of tower 1, telling them to stay put, and stay low. Good advice, yes! The person he was talking to, obviously in a state of panic, kept saying they were going to try to find a way out. When the operator heard this, he got very defensive and angry as if this poor trapped soul was challenging his authority, and the operator actually says, "No sir, don't do that, you know what, I AM HANGING UP!!" Are you kidding me???

That is all for now.

Get Fit 2008 - Update #2

2008-09-07T17:25:00.002-04:00

8/22/08: 190 lbs

8/29/08: 187 lbs

9/6/08: 182.5 lbs

The weight is starting to come off, but there is no way it can stay such a constant decrease. I expect to start dropping maybe 1-2 pounds per week MAX. The only faults this week were a few chicken tenders and some beer, but a guy has got to live, right? The cardio is getting easier, but the strained muscle/tendonitis is getting worse, so I guess we will see how this goes. See you next week.

Forget the Presidency.....There's a More Important Debate!!

2008-09-04T02:21:00.005-04:00

Man-Vs.-Wild OR Survivorman

For me, it's not really a debate at all. Survivorman is by far the better of the two survival technicians. But follow me here....let's take a different direction with this one. I am actually going to tell you some cool stuff about Bear Grylls.

First, he has an awesome name. I love Bears. And I love grilling things.

Next....let's look at some of the cool things he has accomplished (thanks to IMDB):

1) Served in British Special Air Services (I know nothing about them, but they sound badass)

2)He has climbed Mount Everest

Now I have done a lot of research about this intrepid mountain and I know this is no little feat!!! For this I tip my hat.

3)In June 2005, He broke a world record by hosting a dinner party at a table suspended below a hot air balloon at 24,500 feet.

-I mean it was about time. We all flirted with this record...thinking we would be the ones to break bread amongst the clouds....but Bear.....He is a DO-ER!!!

4)He led the first unassisted crossing of the frozen North Atlantic Ocean, in an open, rigid, inflatable boat!

-Carnival Cruise Lines, I believe, has now expanded their vacation options to include this very same voyage. Who comes up with these challenges??

5) Finally, he owns his own island on the Welsh coast, which he keeps as a nature reserve, and lives on a converted barge wife his wife and kids, Jesse and Marmaduke.

-His name is Marmaduke. You don't mess with Marmaduke.

Now I do have to say there are quite a few things about Man vs. Wild that bother me and keep me from becoming a true fan. Most importantly, it always seems like Bear just got back from the local Motel 6 to start filming. Secondly, he takes the most ridiculously complex approach to EVERYTHING. You could walk down the snowy mountain, slide on your rear end, figure something out. Nope, not Bear. He finds an animal to kill so he can skin the hide and prepare it as a sled. And the eating!! Oh, the eating!!! Now why is it so important that he eat raw sheep heart? He just got the thing of a nasty Irish Bog and he decides the best coarse of action is to eat raw sheep heart. Myself, I would cook up a little meat.

I am too tired right now to discuss the pros for Survivorman, but basically.......It's just a dude with a camera and a smile. He says drop me here and I will see you in 5 days.

Procrastination Nation!

2008-09-01T16:45:00.003-04:00

Before I get to studying for the day/night....here are two things I feel must be brought to public attention:

1) This is one of the funniest informercial products I have ever seen. It is called the Aqua Globe. The concept itself is very logical and functional, it even fills a niche. Its purpose is to water your plants for you using about a 2 weeks supply of H2O. The soil supposedly absorbs the water only as fast as the plant needs it. This is all fine and dandy, but has anyone looked at the big picture?? The Aqua Globe is at least half the size of the majority of household plants. Unless its solely to take care of things while you are away, its basically like decorating your house with Aqua Globes and using the plants as support. Nope, not for me. I am going to stick with my electric meat thermometer, and 8 note harmonica set.

2) Duffy, No Ummmm Dorky, I mean P. Diddles, Sean John, No wait.....The Vote or Die guy... Whats his name??? Sean "Diddy" Combs is now finally campaigning to lower the cost of oil and thus fuel. This is great thing!! So why am I making fun this "Bad Boy for Life?" Well it's because he is tired of having to ride in first class on commercial flights with the common folk! He is outraged that his private jet excursions are getting too costly, sometimes up to $200,000 (Don't worry, its roundtrip).

Get Fit 2008 - Update #1

2008-08-30T14:48:00.002-04:00

8/22/08: 190 lbs

8/29/08: 187 lbs

So far so good. Kinda slow out of the gate. A bout of tendinitis limited the running so I had to try out the exercise bike and elliptical. Trying to lift at least twice a week to get the calories burning. Still can't stay away from Moe's burritoes but overall the diet wasn't bad. See ya next week for another update....Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel

WWJMD

2008-08-29T09:07:00.009-04:00

I would like to follow up a post my friend Jonathan once put regarding his choice of presidential candidates. His post said WWJBD? He was referring to none other than Jedediah Bartlett. I could not agree more. Especially now that it feels like I have to choose the lesser of two evils in November, I would like nothing more than to follow Martin Sheen, eeeer I mean, Jed Bartlett to the steps of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

I would like to share someone new with all of you. A new mentor. A new guide. And well, let's be honest, just a downright great guy!!!! His name..................... Jack McCoy. Some of you may recognize good ole Jack here and think he is from the show Law & Order, but he is no actor and his prosecutions are no joke. Are you a baseball player who thinks you can get away with murdering your limo driver? An ex-husband who is going to steal his children from the mother and then brainwash them into giving you love and affection? What about a religious extremist who murders for their cause? It doesn't matter what the situation, the crime, the evidence available, the motive, the witnesses...... McCoy weilds out justice like it shoots from his fingertips. So here's to you Jack! So I think there is only one reasonable thing to do. Make Jack McCoy Vice President of these United States.

So who is with me? Who will join the ranks to vote for Bartlett/McCoy 2008!

Yeah, I've Heard That One Before

2008-08-22T17:27:00.004-04:00

So it's that time again! It's time to get my ass into shape. I knew things were looking bad when my scrubs started to fit snuggly.....Scrubs! And they don't hide much to begin with. So here I go. Starting point: 190 lbs. Goal: 165 by the end of 2008. Feel free to help hold me accountable.

Medical school is an ironic thing......it's an institution devoted to teaching future physicans how to heal, instill healthy values, etc........all the while getting no sleep, eating crappy food, and stressing our bodies to the max.

RIP late night Frisco Melt. I think I will miss YOU the most.

Esta Equipo Es Loco!!

2008-08-13T11:12:00.003-04:00

This is crazy...take a look at this:

This is the Spanish olympic basketball team posing with each individual player pushing the skin folds of their eyes posteriorly so that the slant makes them look more chinese. Now I personally don't think anyone meant for this advertisement to be racist or mean in any way. It was actually paid for and produced by their sponsor, Sauer, and meant to show their hopeful dominance in Spain on this dragon adorned court. Good idea.......BAD execution.

Who signed off on this though? If nothing else, assuming no spiteful intentions, who decided that it was a logical, beneficial ad for the company. I worked at an advertising agency for a year, and while I would never claim to have a lot of "experience" in that field, I can guarantee nothing like that would have flown past the concepting stage.....and even then it would have been questioned. I mean who couldn't forsee this going terribly wrong.

My favorite part though is how all of the players act like they are terribly surprised about the global response. As Jose Calderon, the team's starting point guard, says, "We felt it was appropriate, and that it would be interpreted as an affectionate gesture." REALLY? Bullshit!

Just another reason why..............GO PHELPS!

Anything Brett Favre Can Do I Can Do Better!

2008-07-31T10:35:00.003-04:00

Ok, maybe not when it comes to playing professional football. However, the Milwaukee newspaper reported today that the Green Bay Packers might have offered Brett Favre $20 million over the next 10 years to stay retired, stay out of the newspapers, and stay out of training camp. Well I am here to say that I can be the man the packers are looking for. For the first time in my life, I can be as big of a stud as Brett Favre.

So Ted Thompson (The GM).... I am your man. Pay me the $20 million, heck I will take half. And in return I promise to never show up for training camp, to not interfere with Aaron Rodgers new reign as QB, and to never question your authority in the public newspaper.

I think that's a fair deal.

Talk is Cheap

2008-07-29T11:42:00.004-04:00

Upon checking CNN today, I finally saw the amazing breaking news of the morning. The House of Representatives is going to formally pass a resolution that apologizes for slavery and the institution of the Jim Crow laws. I am all for the sentiment, but this is just ridiculous. First of all, as nice (albeit questionable) the intent is for this resolution, it is really just a smack in the face of EVERYONE. Yes I said everyone.

For african americans, it really doesn't do anything. I mean there is no mention of reparations for the slaves' descendants, no change in the present laws that have blacks serving twice as long a sentence for crack as whites do for cocaine.......nothing that will truthfully help them as a race or community. So really what is the House of Rep doing? Its just a bunch of old guys, who have absolutely nothing to do with the atrocities that happened decades and centuries ago SAYING "I am sorry." Also, aren't the laws and resolutions passed by the US government supposed to represent the American people (the majority that is). If so, this is a little crazy.....I didn't do anything wrong. I wasnt even alive. I like blacks.

For the native americans: Well when do they get their apology. I mean where is that one. How about a resolution that apologizes for contaminating the blankets given to them with smallpox. Sorry for pushing what's left of your tribe into remote areas of the country and abroad. Their "apology" was basically a law passed allowing casinos on indian reservations. I am sure some native americans have made bank from that, but if you go to any reservation you will see it is just pure despair. This was even the focus of an episode of 30 days. No jobs, no money, no food.......only the bitter release through alcohol. And the government funding heading towards these reservations is being cut every year as we fall further into national debt.

And as a Jew........when is the German nation going to pass a law to apologize to me and the other chosen people for the 8 million Jews who wiped out during the holocaust. I know this is not an issue for the House of Representatives, but while they are at it.....

And what about everyone else?!?!. In a country where close to 15% of the population is living near the poverty line, millions are living without medical insurance or access to medical care, homelessness and housing issues are on the rise, parents are losing their children to a war that might never end, clean drinking water is declining rapidly due to draught, and so much more.........TALK IS CHEAP. Please please please.......No more talk, only action. I hate reading the news and seeing that one of the only recent successful resolutions and bi-partisan agreements is to give a verbal and written apology.

Second Star to the Right and Straight on Til Morning!

2008-07-28T09:43:00.004-04:00

I love Disney. I love the parks, I love the movies, and I love how you never have to grow up while involved in their world. However, when I turn off the movie or leave the park I definitely transition back to the same person I always am. I found an old blog of mine from myspace and thought I would share this guy and his website with you. Here is an example of a guy who just NEVER wants to grow up!! Remember this one Todd?

Check this out: http://www.pixyland.org/peterpan.

When Condiments Become The New Currency - A story of thievery amongst us!!

2008-07-24T09:45:00.004-04:00

I don't know if you have been to McDonald's, or any other fast food joint lately, but the unthinkable has happened......they are charging for extra sauce.

This is an outrage and I don't think we, as a country, can afford to sit by and watch this happen. Now I admit, I am more of a sauce guy than a ketchup guy and I know that puts me in the minority. I have a friend Adam who eats the the food prepared merely as a side dish to the ketchup he actually eats for every meal, like its the fifth food group. Luckily for Adam's sake, and many others, these corporate giants have not hit us where it could hurt the most......ketchup. These beautiful condiment packets are still given in handfuls to any soul who cares to approach the counter or the "2nd window, please pull around." However, this does not mean that we can afford to be lackadaisical.

Sweet and Sour, Barbeque, Honey Mustard, Polynesian Sauce...........now these are my fast food drugs of choice. How do you think I felt when I ordered my 10-piece nugget meal (which includes a large fry and drink), pull around to the counter to ask for extra sauce and was told that it would be an additional 35 cents per packet. This is outrageous. I have never worked at a McDonald's but so far it seems the policy is to give 1 sauce for the six piece, 2 for the ten piece, and an amazing three sauce packets if you go for the twenty-piece (maybe back during my wrestling days).

Now let's break it down financially..... I can not rememeber the full price of the combo meal but for argument's sake lets say it was an even $5. So for my ten nuggets and and large fries I am given, included in the price, a mere two packets of sweet and sour sauce. This is not even close to enough. Have you seen the size of the dipping packet?? It is one nugget deep and two nuggets wide......so basically enough for two nuggets. That means I should be getting at least FIVE packets and this doesn't even include the fries (oh no they never consider the fries). Now I admit, I am a very liberal dipper. I eat sweet and sour sauce like Adam eats ketchup, but that should be my right as a consumer. If I choose to purchase the amount of sauce that I require......an additional 4-5 packets.....we are talking an additional $1.40 - $1.75. Thats about 30% of what I paid for the meal alone!!!

I would continue my diatribe with some solution as to how to hit these corporate giants where it hurts, but the truth is that right now they have the power. Any logical solutions, such as buying some sweet and sour sauce from the supermarket, would be in complete contradiction to the convenience and primary reason why so many of us eat at a fast food restaurant. I am going to work on this.......find some way to take back the power......and I will let you know!