December 28, 2004
Walking on the Moon
Taking a walk through Suntopia Harbor, I was looking for a better place to fish. Weaving amongst the upscale apartments juxtaposed by overgrown weed lots, I stumbled upon some real exotic crafts rotting away, forgotten and neglected by their owners.
This semi-submersible looks like something straight out of Star Trek with it's dramatically curved pontoons and bulbous design. Not meant to submerge at all, it rides on the surface, but the passengers sit in the hull well below the waterline, and can look out of the domed windows. The aft portion of the craft reveals a small propeller and rudder that suggests this exotically designed take on a glass-hulled boat is only meant to cruise in protected bodies of water, and may be a hint as to why it is still not in use around this area.
Looking like something that might lead the Rebel squadron to an attack on the Death Star, this airfoil is built for speed. Mounted behind the long cockpit is a huge fan, not unlike those used by the fan boats on the everglades. It is sad that these two awesome crafts are left to rot in an abandoned lot just a few feet from the water, but upkeep and storage costs must be prohibitively expensive for items of such limited utility.
As if to match the theme of my walk, I spotted these strange fruit, busting out of fur covered appendages. It's ordinary excursions like these that make wandering around such a rewarding activity.
December 21, 2004
Horror, Non-fiction
My father just emailed me an article, entitled "Death By Medicine" about what is wrong with the American medical system today.
It is now evident that the American medical system is the leading cause of death and injury in the US. (By contrast, the number of deaths attributable to heart disease in 2001 was 699,697, while the number of deaths attributable to cancer was 553,251.)
It seems counter-intuitive that our medical system, the one that we depend on to heal us, is the cause (the leading cause of death and injury) of so much unnecessary death and injury. This article explores in detail what is wrong, and more importantly what can be corrected in order to remedy these flaws, with medicine in the U.S.. Who would really argue that they don't mind being (or being treated by) a fatigued, rushed doctor who is administering aid outside of his or her area of expertise?
The practices of the pharmaceutical industry are also carefully examined. Is it beneficial for large industries to put medical journalists on the payroll, or for research to be done by researchers who are anything less than impartial towards anything other than scientific objectivity? Might these interests conflict with the general well-being of society, or are large companies to be blindly trusted in the hope that they will be pillars of ethical righteousness?
The issue of iatrogenic (meaning induced in a patient by a physician's activity, manner, or therapy. Used especially of an infection or other complication of treatment. Until very recently, I didn't know what this meant either) injury is especially scary. If you were a doctor and you screwed up, you might think long and hard about reporting it because if you did it might very well cost you your reputation, career, and a lot of money. The article implies that the vast majority of iatrogenic injuries go unreported. The bulk of those that are reported are done so because they have been discovered by the patient or the family of the patient (after they die sometimes). I am not comforted in how some doctor's superior knowledge of medicine is being used, or withheld in these situations. I see two factors at blame here, one being the medical industry, and the other being our litigious society.
I got sick last year, and my employer insisted that I go to a hospital so they could treat my cold. I refused, and not only were they baffled, but they were also agitated.
Supervisor: "Why didn't you go to the hospital to go see a doctor?"
Me: "Because all I needed was rest, and see, I'm much better already."
Supervisor: "You should go anyways, that's what hospitals are for."
Me: "In the U.S., we just drink lots of fluids, eat foods that are easy to digest, and get plenty of sleep. And it works just fine."
Supervisor: "Next time, you need to go to the hospital."
I am glad that I didn't go to the hospital, because if I had, they might have injured me iatrogenically. Try translating that to your tantousha.
On a side note, Matt once was dragged to the hospital by his supervisor, and they rused him into getting a tube shoved down his throat (without prior consent) while he was still awake. Maybe they were punishing him for being a bad ALT, hahaha!
December 18, 2004
Googlethink
This short movie is a fictional documentary chronicling modern social trends and the evolving dynamics of information. Brings back memories of 1984, updated.
December 8, 2004
Tijuana, Japan
Japan's Tijuana is just like California's. Everyone wears ponchos and sombreros and drinks a lot of tequila while playing mariachi music next to the saguaro cacti.
The only things missing are the jumping beans and kids chasing after a tourist with Chicle.
There is also a crazy looking zebra tethered by a amidst discarded furniture and cinderblocks.
Sadly in Tijuana, Japan, there are no cheap tacos with meat of questionable origin, nor are there any churros.
December 3, 2004
Gooks in Kitano
If I were Angry Asian Man, I'd say "That's racist!". This Chinese restaraunt is in the upscale neighborhood of Kitano, Kobe.
"Stick Snack Gookie Salad" is almost as good as "Cheese Flavored Nips".
