DrTony

2006-09-15T13:14:00.000-04:00

You'd think that the Jersey Democrats might try nominating people who aren't crooks.

Yeah, but how do they do that in New Jersey?

2006-09-01T11:01:00.000-04:00

I have enjoyed listening to the TCS Daily Podcasts. I heard something interesting in this podcast, featuring Stephen D. Cooper, an Associate Professor of Communications at Marshall University, about which I haven't seen anyone else comment. It is about his new book, "Watching the Watchdog: Bloggers As the Fifth Estate" and he discusses the roll of the blogosphere in policing the MSM.

The host, Ed Driscoll, asked him to "talk a little bit more about how your book defines the relationship between bloggers and the press." (at 1:40)

Professor Cooper replied, "Well, I would say the relationship is very much similar to the long-standing roll the press and the other branches of government..."

I have heard others, notably in the Pajamas Media podcasts, especially Glenn Reynolds, make the case that the press fancies themselves to be a fourth branch of government, but is was interesting to hear this Associate Professor of Communications refer to "the press and the other branches of government."

2006-08-31T16:40:00.000-04:00

Why, when we have a very robust economy, does everybody seem to think it's in the crapper? Instapundit linked to this post by John Wixted.

What is unrecognized is that today's poor aren't yesterday's poor, nor will they be tomorrow's poor. If you read Thomas Sowell, you will see that entry level wages may be flat, but people don't stay in entry level jobs. As Glenn commented about everyone he knows who owns a business, people move to new jobs for better wages. The MSM likes to report that income for "the poorest 10%" has not increased, but a sample of today's poorest 10% will show income growth over the next year. The problem with the MSM logic is that they aren't sampling the same people.

You could argue that the youngest 10% of babies are eating the same foods they were 10 years ago. This means that babies eat baby food. So what? It certainly doesn't mean that people who were eating baby food 10 years ago are still eating baby food.

So what if today's teenagers are earning the same as teenagers 5 or 10 years ago? Is it a "living wage"? It is for a teenager with no rent, utilities etc. If you are 30 years old with a family and you are working at minimum wage, whose fault is that?

Update: grammar correction

2006-08-31T09:58:00.000-04:00

Mouse Story ...

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

"What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning.

"There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap-- alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.

So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life.

We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

2006-08-26T10:16:00.000-04:00

You Are Superman

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
And pretty cute too. No wonder you're the most popular superhero ever!

What Superhero Are You?

That was interesting, I wouldn't have guessed that one.

2006-08-21T11:52:00.000-04:00

There is a bill pending in the Senate, S 2590, which would create internet access to allow us to see where our money is being spent. This bill has been held up due to a "secret hold" by one or more Senators. The telephone for the Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Call this and ask your senators if they have placed a hold on this bill. I spoke with the offices of Senator Frist and Senator Alexander. Brandon, with Sen Frist, indicated he was a co-sponsor of the bill and would not want a hold placed on it. Kara, in Sen Alexander's office, had no knowledge of Sen Alexander's position but "would have someone get back" to me. You can see the list of "suspects" and cleared Senators here.

2006-07-20T15:38:00.000-04:00

Reuters does its typical job of writing an editorial and trying to pretend it's an actual news report: Bush to cast his first veto on stem-cell bill. Here, they write:

President George W. Bush will cast the first veto of his presidency on Wednesday to stop legislation championed by top scientists and desired by most Americans to expand embryonic stem cell research, the White House said.

Nowhere in the article do they support the statement that "top scientists" support the legislation. They don't quote a single scientist, by name or otherwise, or even refer to a single scientist as supportive, never mind how they might have decided who the "top scientists" were.

Additionally, the article makes to reference to any polls that indicate that "most Americans" support this legislation. I would doubt that "most Americans" even know what this legislation is about.

For example, how many of my readers know that federal funding for embryonic stem cell research was non-existent prior to the 2001 legislation signed by President Bush? Did you know that the law does not limit, nor did President Bush support limiting stem cell research, only embryonic stem cell research?

This article by Reuters repeats a common element; that is to use the broader term "stem cell research" when they are specifically addressing objections to "embryonic stem cell research." I wonder if it is deliberate.

2006-07-18T12:08:00.000-04:00

Is the customer always right? I don't think so, and neither does The Chief Happiness Officer.

I worked in a hospital where the corporate policy was to do Medical Screening Evaluations (MSE's) and to require pre-registration and pre-payment for those who we determined did not have an Emergency Medical Condition. When I started there, the ER director, a nurse administrator, explained that the corporations intent was to "train the community" in the proper utilization of the ER and to discourage inappropriate use.

A number of hospitals don't do this, both because of a fear of liability and a fear of alienating "customers." I always thought you wanted to alienate over-utilizers and those for whom you wouldn't receive payment because the insurance company would deny payment for a non-emergent condition. Additionally, if you do a good job in your MSE, there should be minimal liability.

Anyway, I told the nurse director that I would do this if it was policy but he should understand that there would be a significant number of complaints. He stated that the administration understood this.

Well, what do you guess happened? I did the screens and got complaints. Some people were grateful when the registration person told them they would have to pay if their insurance company denied the charges, but the majority were unhappy about being told their conditions weren't emergencies. After all, isn't the customer always right? I can remember being taught that a condition was an emergency if the patient determined it was.

But, geez, what about the person who shows up at 7pm on a Tuesday night requesting a refill on her Prozac? She had taken her last pill that morning and there was no reason she couldn't call her PMD in the AM for a refill, except that she owed him so much money that he refused to provide care until she started paying. Should we be required to see her and give her a prescription, with no expectation of payment?

One of my colleagues tells this story: He asked a patient one night why he had not seen his PMD for his presenting complaint, a chronic problem, and the patient replied, "I don't have any money to pay a doctor." My colleague, exasperated, replied, "I don't work for free, you know."

Anyway, the end result of my efforts to pursue MSE's was that the administration of the hospital almost fired me over the number of complaints I was getting. Now I don't disagree that a hospital should want to keep down the number of unhappy customers, but why tell me to do MSE's, knowing you will get complaints, and then criticize me for the complaints when I did appropriate MSE's. I would always have a nurse in the room when I explained it to the patient and the consensus was that I did a good job and was not rude or insensitive in my presentation to the patient.

2006-05-07T04:20:00.000-04:00

Researchers Chart Leap in Mac Vulnerabilities

The volume of security vulnerabilities discovered in Apple's Macintosh platform has increased significantly over the last several years, according to a new report released by McAfee's Avert Labs.

The security software maker contends that the number of flaws found in the Mac operating system has increased by 228 percent since 2003. While the researchers said the number of serious vulnerabilities isolated in the latest version of Apple's operating system software, Mac OS X, is dwarfed by the quantity of problems unearthed in Microsoft's rival Windows during the same period, McAfee maintains that as Apple's products have become more popular, a larger number of glitches are being identified.

Gee, I hope there's no conflict of interest in this report.

Oh, wait, there's more:

For its part, McAfee released the findings alongside the announcement of its new package of anti-virus applications for Apple's Intel-based Macs. The vendor's VirusScan for Mactel 8.0 release runs under Apple's Rosetta emulator and promises protection from both Macintosh- and Windows-oriented viruses, as well as Trojans and other threats.

2006-05-04T12:36:00.000-04:00

Just wondering, is there a basis for a lawsuit against the New York Times based on the newsrag's publication of classified data? Don't we, as citizens, have the right to see that our tax dollars are spent wisely? Isn't the money wasted trying to defend legal policies or trying to investigate leaks of classified information? If the NYT violated the Espionage Act by publishing classified data, didn't it waste our tax dollars?

What about the lies in the Washington Post about secret prisons in Europe? With no evidence that this was true, this newsrag published what it believed was classified information, costing the US taxpayers huge amounts of money.

And the damage to our countries reputation? Is this libel? Other countries will be more reluctant to deal with the US if their own secrets won't be protected.

What about our security? The individual security of each citizen. Let's say that a group of terrorists is plotting to blow up Oak Ridge. They avoid using cell phones because the NYT has illegally published classified data. They aren't caught and successfully blow up Oak Ridge. My wife is in Oak Ridge for a dog show and gets killed. Has the NYT committed second degree murder? Wasn't this willful disregard for the consequence of their actions? Do I have a civil suit for wrongful death?

2006-05-04T12:33:00.000-04:00

In the WSJ, an article describing the success related to med-mal reform:

The Senate is once again taking up the issue of medical justice reform. If senators want to expand access to health care by increasing the number of physicians and lowering costs, they need to look at Texas.

In the summer of 2003 the Texas Legislature enacted important medical litigation reform. A voter-approved constitutional amendment, Proposition 12, followed later that year to solidify the changes. As a result, physicians are returning to the state, particularly in underserved specialties and counties. Insurance premiums to protect against frivolous lawsuits have declined dramatically, with the state's largest carrier reporting declines up to 22% and other carriers reducing premiums by an average of 13%. The number of lawsuits filed against doctors has been cut almost in half.

Prior to the successful reform effort, personal injury lawyers had put Texas doctors on the run. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the frequency of claims was increasing at a rate of 4.6% annually--between 1996 and 2000 alone, one out of four doctors was sued.

2006-05-03T08:13:00.000-04:00

A Day Without Immigrants (DWI))

What a concept. So were we to imagine that every person with whom we interact on a daily basis, who wasn't born in the US, will simply be unavailable on May 1?

My father-in-law was born in Mexico. He immigrated, legally, to the US about 50 years ago. He married a woman who was born in the US, but both of whose parents were legal immigrants from Mexico. So, everybody who lives in my house, except for me, is Mexican.

F-in-Law hates the concept of amnesty for illegal immigrants. His attitude is that he did it right, waited, got in and succeeded. Why should someone be allowed to break the law, for whatever "admirable" motive, and then just say, "Oops! My Bad!" and just be forgiven?

On May 1, I was working in the ER. One of my patients was a young man who had a work-place injury to his foot. He commented, "You know, Doc, I shouldn't have been at work today, anyway." He referred to the DWI. He is a natural born citizen of the US; his parents were both immigrants from Mexico. I asked him what he thought about amnesty for illegals. He replied that it bothered him that so many people wanted to make criminals out of the immigrants. I thought I was in for the usual liberal arguments, but before I could reply that they made criminals out of themselves when they broke the law, he laughed and said, "Well, I guess they did that themselves, didn't they?"

He then replied that he was conflicted. You see, both of his immigrant parents were illegal, but were now citizens after the amnesty under President Reagan. He didn't want to criticize current illegals because that would mean criticizing his parents.

However, he moved from El Paso because he couldn't compete with the overwhelming number of illegals for jobs. The argument that illegals are simply doing the jobs that "Americans" don't want to do is bunk. He works for a construction company, legally, pays his taxes and expects a certain income. The problem is that, because he works in a labor job, he doesn't have much job security. Every day there is a line of illegals waiting for his foreman, trying to take his and other jobs. They don't just work for less per hour, but there is none of the beuracratic overhead associated with legal employees.

As with every other employee that works "off the books" the employer doesn't have to pay worker's comp, taxes, etc. Now, I know that some do, and even help the illegal get forged documents. OTOH, if this guy had been an illegal working for end of the day cash, he would have been on the hook for a several hundred dollar ER bill. The employer could have just told the guy, "Hey, if you're hurt and can't work, just get out of here!" and taken the next guy in line.

So, my patient works for less per hour, to protect his employment, than he would have to earn if he wasn't competing against illegals. He is concerned that he can't provide for his kids adequately because of this. He feels that the increased income he could have if he wasn't competing with illegals would allow his wife to be a stay at home mom.

Mixed feelings.

BTW, I am a first generation US citizen. My mother immigrated legally and became a US citizen in the 1960's.

2006-05-01T09:57:00.000-04:00

I appreciate the people who have been checking back and wondering where I am. I have been working a great deal, actually more than 2 full time jobs. I will be sliding back into doing some blogging, but my free time has gone to my family.

BTW, check this out. I just got it for my birthday and it works great. I had a bluetooth headset for my older Ipod, but it wouldn't work with my video Ipod. This one works fine and even works flawlessly with my Treo.

2006-02-10T07:54:00.000-05:00

State lawmakers say imminent domain is hot topic

Leaders of both parties said their constituents are upset about a U.S. Supreme Court decision last June that allows governments to forcibly buy property from its owner for development by another private owner.

"There have been 17 bills on this filed in the Senate and it's just Thursday," Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, said during The Associated Press-Tennessee Press Association legislative planning session Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, said he expected legislation to pass outlawing governmental taking of property for private development.

"Eminent domain is something that's on everybody's mind," Ramsey said. "It's mostly what I hear about back in my district."

So at least someone's trying to get it right.

2006-02-10T07:42:00.000-05:00

Knoxville woman charged with TennCare fraud

An indictment accuses Hill of knowingly trying to use her TennCare benefits to pay for a fraudulent prescription for the painkiller Lortab, a brand version of hydrocodone.

Obviously, we all understand the problem of prescription fraud. My first thought about this article was a little different.

Does this woman ever think about the fact that she is stealing from poor people? By taking this money out of the TennCare budget, she is taking money that could be used to provide care for the indigent.

This isn't a matter of stealing from the tax collector. This money was destined for the indigent, having already been taken from the rich by the government.

What would she say if someone suggested to her that she steal $15 buck from a mission house to buy Lortab? Wait, don't answer that.

2006-02-10T07:32:00.000-05:00

Chrysler's LaSorda calls for lawsuit reform
Just a reminder that the tort/malpractice problem in our country is more than just medical. How much of the cost of any product is due to the lawyers?

2006-01-30T16:15:00.000-05:00

On my wish list: Myvu

2006-01-30T15:36:00.000-05:00

Obesity Contagious?

There is accumulating evidence that certain viruses may cause obesity, in essence making obesity contagious, according to Leah D. Whigham, the lead researcher in a new study, "Adipogenic potential of multiple human adenoviruses in vivo and in vitro in animals," in the January issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology published by the American Physiological Society.

OK, I can accept that a virus may make you hungry, but taking in more calories than you burn is what makes one obese. The article describes "adipogenic potential." Does this mean that the virus might make adipose out of nowhere? Or does it mean that there is a greater potential for imbibed calories to be deposited as adipose as opposed to used for some other reason?

No matter what infection you get, if you eat 1500 calories a day and burn 2000, you will not get fat.

2006-01-30T12:20:00.000-05:00

Well, this certainly explains a lot about my social life in high school:

He believes the genes which make someone analytical may also impair their social and communication skills. A weakness in these areas is the key characteristic of autism."

2006-01-29T15:25:00.000-05:00

Hey, TWM! Is this you?

2006-01-28T22:05:00.000-05:00

Single workout can lift mood in depressed patients

A single 30-minute walk on a treadmill can give a temporary emotional lift to patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, the results of a small study suggest.

Researchers found that among 40 men and women recently diagnosed with major depression, those who spent just a half hour on a treadmill reported a short-term improvement in energy and emotional well-being.

Though a single workout is not the answer to clinical depression, the researchers say, exercise could offer depressed patients a way to give themselves an emotional boost.

Works for me.

2006-01-28T21:57:00.000-05:00

Now, this is cool. Helpful and informative, too.

2006-01-28T20:11:00.000-05:00

This may be the only thing that could get me to vote for Diane Feinstein.

2006-01-28T19:34:00.000-05:00

Hospitals may want to rethink cell phone bans

The prohibition against mobile phones in hospitals may do more harm than good, a new report reveals.

Medical facilities prohibit cell phone use, but some doctors already use them. And it turns out they reduce medical errors because communication is more timely, a new study finds.

Mobile phones rarely cause electronic magnetic interference, Yale School of Medicine researchers reported today.

2006-01-28T18:23:00.000-05:00

FDA Approves Inhalable Insulin

The first inhalable version of insulin won federal approval Friday, giving millions of adult diabetics an alternative to some of the injections they now endure.

The Food and Drug Administration said the Pfizer Inc. insulin, to be marketed as "Exubera," is the first new way of delivering insulin since the discovery of the hormone in the 1920s.

Pfizer jointly developed the drug and dispenser with Sanofi-Aventis and Nektar Therapeutics. It should be available to patients by midyear, Pfizer said.

Cool beans.