House of Thought

I just started reading the book "Becoming a Doctor: A Journey of Initiation in Medical School" by Melvin Konner, M.D. The book is about Konner's experience as a third and fourth year medical student through the eyes of an anthropologist. Konner was 33 when he entered medical school and had already established himself in the field of anthropology which allowed him to view the medical field from an interesting perspective. I am only a few pages into the book, so I can't comment on it much. But, from what I understand the book is largely critical of the way medicine is taught in modern society. Konner feels doctors are not being educated enough on dealing with patients on a personal level. He added this statement in the preface which I thought was interesting.

"But doctors are craftspeople of the highest order. Sometimes, like engineers, they lean very heavily on science. Sometimes, like diamond cutters, they seem to be coasting along on pure skill. And occasionally, as with glassblowers or goldsmiths, what they do verges on art. But in almost all cases doctors are practical, no-nonsense women and men who have given their lives to this craft of theirs and do not suffer fools gladly. They are as brilliant, hardworking, and dedicated a group as one will find in any profession, and they are more of all three than most. When I talk about what I think is missing I mean accomplishments that would have to be grafted onto an already prodigious set of achievements. I do not want to belittle those achievements when I say that what is missing is at least as important as what is there."
-Melvin Konner, M.D.

I look forward to seeing what he has to say.

It seems like the first question I get asked about my European adventure is whether or not I tried absinthe. This drink carries with it an almost mythical reputation here in the U.S. where the common belief is that it is outlawed because it is a hallucinogenic. That people who drink absinthe go on these crazy trips, see things, and it is an unbelievable high. The reason I am thinking of this is because this is how the drink was depicted in the movie Eurotrip, which was extremely funny, but only because I could relate to the scenes. Anyways, let me tell my absinthe story to debunk what you may have heard.

So, Jacqui and I, half-way through our Euro-adventure, went to Prague in the Czech Republic, everybody said it was the coolest place. Aside from Bratislava, Slovakia it was the only eastern European place we visited. The impact of Soviet domination was unbelievable. You can be in Vienna, Austria and take a 30 minute train ride over to Bratislava, yet it is completely different. For the most part everything is just a little bit dirtier, it is hard to explain. A lot of stuff is dilapidated and old, and this was the same for Prague. Ohh, and the rumors about the cheap prices are true. We went to Little Caesers (which was suppressing to find) and got breadsticks, sauce, 2 slices of pizza, and a large soda for 2 bucks. You just can't beat that. Which brings me to Prague, it is unique from other European cities because it has sort of a gothic gloominess to it that is intriguing. The style of some of the buildings is borderline creepy. But on the other hand there is a lot of pre-fab Soviet crap that takes away from it. I think this almost medieval atmosphere is what Americans find so thrilling. Yet, for us we had already been living in Europe for 6 months so it didn't have the same effect. At this point, cobble-stone streets and tiny alley ways had become the norm. This and the fact that Prague lacked major sights made it somewhat mediocre in our minds.

So, we are walking around one afternoon and decided that we had to try absinthe. Absinthe is like the national liquor of the Czech Republic. We had to see for ourselves what all these fables were about. We went into a little store and looked at the various bottles containing the neon green spirits. On one hand we didn't want to go cheap because if absinthe was like vodka, there is definitely incentive not to go cheap. But on the other hand, we didn't want to waste money on the expensive stuff. For this reason we chose a mid-priced bottle which was maybe slightly bigger than a pint. The bottle was square shaped and very slim.

Everything we had read said that absinthe was so strong that most people prefer to water it down and add sugar. On our way back to our hotel we bought some more bottled water, there was no way in hell we were drinking out of the tap, and grabbed a couple sugar packets out of the hotel restaurant area (which was just a couple of tables and a bar, the hotel was pretty bare, not luxury by any means). We take all our ingredients up to the room for our, "experimentation."

We took our glasses and poured half absinthe and half water, with a dash of sugar, and took our first taste. YYYYYYYYUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKK. It was by far the sickest thing I have ever tasted. Not only was it about 75% alcohol, but the herbs in it gave it the nastiest and funkiest aftertaste that just would not leave your mouth. It was so gross I got the chills. Yet, we had this entire bottle, and we certainly wouldn't be hallucinating off of one glass. We were determined to force down enough of the gag-worthy beverage to feel the effects. We would basically fill our glasses with the absinthe mixture, and chug them. Pretty soon the entire bottle was gone, and you know what hallucinations we saw? Not a damn thing. I was barely even buzzed from the alcohol. If there were any effects it was from the high proof liquor, not the crazy ingredients found only in absinthe. What a disappointment, here we forced down a bottle of this stuff and we were not even drunk. At this point we decided to cut our loses and just go get something to eat.

While wandering around downtown Prague we found this restaurant attached to a clothing store that looked somewhat American. Although people will disagree with me and say that you should try the cultural food, my experiences have taught me otherwise. I got screwed over way to many times by paying high prices for dishes that were disgusting. Example, in Rome I got some Italian dish, it turned out it was mediocre at best, and then the guy slaps down a $20 bill. I nearly crapped. The result of this was eating at McDonalds way too much, because a Big Mac is a Big Mac regardless of the country, you know what you are paying for. (Sidenote: I still can't eat McDonalds after coming back.) So, we go into this restaurant that seems reputable. It was attached to this trendy store which I thought was weird but didn't put much thought into. Anyways, we sit down and I had a beer (pilsner urquell, czech beer is the best), and we both ordered hamburgers. We always get our meat cooked well just to prevent any possible food sickness issues. While eating our burgers I notice it is a little chewy and grisly, actually it was a little disgusting. Normally I would have just stopped eating it, but screw it, I was paying for it, so I would eat it, all of it. Jacqui, being slightly more intelligent than me, stopped eating hers half-way through. We pay the bill, and leave.

A couple of hours later, we are about to fall asleep when I get this really weird feeling in my stomach. It felt like my gut was doing cartwheels. I jump out of the bed and run to the bathroom, and here comes the projectile vomit. It was green from the absinthe and filled with chunks of meat. At one point I was blowing hamburger chunks out of my nose. And I thought the taste of absinthe was bad going down. I finally stop spewing my guts all over the toilet and decide I must be finished, and go lay down. Five minutes later, I was sprinting to the bathroom again. So, this process continued for the next 12 hours. If I wasn't heaving, I was walking either to or from the bed. I was miserable to say the least.

Because of these turn of events, Jacqui and I decided to stay in Prague for an additional day so that I could rest. I didn't move the entire next day. I just lied in bed and watched the same crappy music videos (one by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and one by T.a.T.u.) all day long on MTV Eastern Europe. I really pity the teenagers over there.

That night while we are sleeping, Jacqui bolts out of bed and starts throwing up. Here we go again. She spent the entire night copying my performance from the previous evening. That morning, we had to leave because we already had the train tickets and could not stay in Prague another night. While we are on the subway going to the train station, Jac starts puking green vomit into this bag in the middle of a crowded subway car. You should have seen the people's faces, it was sheer terror. Funny as hell looking back on it.

Eventually we made it to Berlin, both of us got better, and the trip continued. Even the thought or mention of absinthe literally makes me sick to my stomach and I get the shakes to this day. I have written this entire story on an upset stomach. Haha, who said entertainment was easy.

Point of the story: Stay away from absinthe and Czech "hamburgers"

Buy Your Own Absinthe

create your own visited states map

See if you can trace my ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Every year my college puts on a sprint triathlon. Every year I say that I want to do it, but before I know it it's 2 weeks till the event and I haven't done any training. Well, this year is different. I will be graduating in June and my goal is to finish the triathlon.

Now, I am a relatively lean, in-shape guy, but endurance has always been my kryptonite. This year I won't let that be an excuse, and just to be sure, I signed up for a triathlon training class. It will force me to train at least 3 days a week. The even is a sprint, which is approximately a 500m swim, a 12 mile bike, and a 3 mile run. It should take about 90 min to complete, which is never easy. I think if I can get my running up to par I will be ok. I am an avid mountain biker and a strong (although out of shape) swimmer, so I should be ok with those. I went out and bought a book for beginner triathletes and it has got me excited. I will be sure to post any important triathlon updates.

12 weeks and counting...

Beginner Triathlete

I thought I would explain the photos I put in the sidebar. Both of which came from my camera.

The first one is of the "spitting gargoyle" high on the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. If you hike up a bunch of stairs there is a walkway on the outside of the cathedral between the two famous towers that can be seen from its front. There are dozens of different gargoyles up there with different personalities. My favorite was the "spitting gargoyle" because of the contemplative contempt he shows the world. In my opinion, he is looking out and thinking about Paris and the world and decides to spit/stick his tongue out to show his disdain. It seemed somewhat appropriate for this blog, where I often discuss things in the world that spur criticism. At the same time, the gargoyle is almost showing his dislike of what I have written here, which is equally relevant. Go here to learn the history of the gargoyles.

The other picture is of me. It was taken during the dreadful night that I described here in the story "Stuck in B.F.E." on 2/5/04. Go to the February archives to read it. Basically, about 30 min before it was taken, I was convinced of impending death, so I was still a little freaked out/ frazzled when the photo was taken. I think my expression is fitting to this blog with its indifference and mockery. I had other more flattering photos, but I chose this one because it was funny to me and pertained to a story here. Later that night I did go on to climb Mt. Sinai which is a tale I'll save for another day, but you can see some cool photos here.

So, I was the target of eco-terrorism last Saturday night, at least on a minor scale. I was at some friends' house while they were having a party and when I went to leave I noticed some writing on my back window in the dirt. At the time I was too tired to pay attention to what it said, so I opened the drivers side door, using the handle, and drove home.

This morning when I went out to my car to get something I noticed that "Gas Pig" had been written on my back window. As I walked around my car surveying any potential damage I noticed a disgusting sight on my driver's side door. While the rest of the car was sufficiently dirty, there was a patch on the door and the handle that was suspiciously clean, as if someone had poured something on it. Well, knowing college kids, it was obvious that these eco-losers had pissed all over my door handle to try and teach me a lesson.

Two thoughts went through my head, 1) thank god I washed my hands when I came in last night, 2) thank god I didn't see the person pissing on my car. Now, I am borderline psycho about the vehicles I drive in how much I look after them. Just earlier in the day, Jacqui suffered from my dictator like rule over my car when she vehemently opposed my "no mcdonalds pancakes with syrup in the car" rule, to no avail. The sight of seeing someone pee on my car would have most likely driven me to such rage that I would have grabbed the back of their head and smashed it through the driver's side window, just out of principle. So, without a doubt it was beneficial for both the culprit and myself that they acted without notice.

Which brings me to the source of the issue. Now, I drive a SUV, and I will continue to do so for quite some time. And if I am not driving a SUV, it will probably be a pick-up. There are a variety of reasons why I prefer SUVs, aside from them being the "latest trend" among grocery getters and soccer moms. The first is that my vehicle must not only transport me, but all the crap associated with my hobbies and interests. In the winter it allows me to easily transport my skis, either inside or on the roof depending on the circumstances and all my gear. When I take ski trips with other people, few cars, at least the ones that are smaller than my Trailblazer, could hold four people, all their gear, and four pairs of skis for 20 hour rides through potential snow storms. Of course a mini-van would do the same thing in terms of capacity, but I really do use the 4wd. While, the other three seasons it allows me to easily transport my mountain bike to and from the trails while also allowing room for other stuff like camping equipment, wakeboards, etc. Also important is comfort. I am 6'3'' and small vehicles are just not comfortable to me, especially when my legs seem like 3/4 of my body length. Even mid-sized cars give me a feeling of claustrophobia when I sit in them. Now, it is important to note that my SUV is tailored to my needs and I utilize all the space it has. I have a mid-sized SUV because I don't need all the room of a Suburban, Tahoe, Expedition, Excursion, etc. I also have a 6-cylinder engine to save gas. Yet, I am not going to chastise those who don't. Because frankly, it's nobody's damn business what car other people want to drive. As for the whole emissions and mpg issue, after seeing Egypt I am convinced its not my Traiblazer that's eating up the ozone. Rather, it's all the third world countries where the cars are so old and crappy that they literally spew smoke out of the exhaust. Go spray paint their cars, or harm their property, not mine. There is nothing funnier to me than seeing hippies driving a beat-up old Ford Fiesta because of its minimal environmental impact while a cloud of oil filled exhaust trails them.

Anyways, my friend John SanFran had it right when he said, "you should fill it up with premium today, just to piss them off even more."

In the words of that one awesome bumper sticker:
You toucha my truck, I breaka you face

I got the following letter in an email. Pretty damn funny.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak my mind. I lost my job this
past year. When Clinton was president I was secure and prosperous, but in the
last year, we had to close our operations. We simply could not compete with
foreign labor. This foreign labor worked for low pay under very bad
conditions.They worked very long shifts, and many even died on the job.This
competition could hardly be called "fair." I was forced out of the place
where I had worked for 34 years.

Not a single government program was there to help me.

How can Bush call himself "compassionate?" Far worse, I lost two of my sons
in Bush's evil war in Iraq. They gave their lives for their country, and for
what? So that Bush's oil buddies can get rich. My pain of losing my sons is
indescribable.

While it is trivial next to the loss of my sons, I regret to say that I also
lost my home. I simply have nothing left. How can Bush call himself a
Christian when he neglects people like me? I am a senior citizen with various
medical problems. I'm not in a position where I can begin a new career. I
was reduced to the point where I had to live in the basement of a shack, all
because of President Bush.

And when the authorities found me there, did they have any compassion for my
misfortune and ailments? No, I was arrested. Mr. Bush, I dare you to look me
in the face and tell me you are a compassionate man! I dare you to look me in
the face and tell me you are a Christian! If I had any money left, I would
donate it to the Democratic Party.

If Al Gore had been elected in 2000 I would still have a job, a home, and most
importantly, my dear sons!



Regards,
Saddam Hussein

One of the things I have yet to understand is just how many people in my generation smoke cigarettes. It seems to still be socially acceptable when at a party or bar. I know more than a few friends that insist there is nothing wrong about being a social smoker. To them, the negative results of smoking seem to be something confined to commercials and myths. Not one to hound other people, I usually keep my feelings to myself. Well, recent events in my family are making me come out and say they need to quit.

This New Years my father had a horrible resolution, to beat cancer. He was a smoker most of his life and beginning last summer began to have trouble speaking in the mornings. There were some days when his voice was so bad you could hardly understand what he was saying. He went into the doctor this fall and was diagnosed as having acid-reflux disease. After taking medication for this, and following the advice of the doctor, the symptoms did not disappear. He then went to an ENT doctor and had his throat scoped. The doctor found a white tumor on his larynx or vocal cords. Since it was unknown whether the tumor was benign or malignant, the doctor wanted to do surgery and remove some of it for biopsy. On Christmas Eve, I woke up at 4 in the morning and took my father in for surgery. Everything went well, but the doctor was pretty sure it was malignant.

On a side note, the doctor is a nice guy and went to the same undergraduate school as me, and probably the same medical school.

So, it took about a week for my father to get the results back, and the results were what we were expecting. Cancer. At the time it had not penetrated below the first levels of tissue which was good news. The doctor wanted to try and remove all the cancer surgically, which would require at least 2 more surgeries and monthly checkups for the next 5 years. He said that the success rate of complete cure was ~95% which was good news.

My dad is pretty strong, so he has been really optimistic throughout the ordeal.

He underwent his second surgery a couple weeks ago, and got some more bad news. It seems the cancer has penetrated more deeply. Now the doctor wants to try a new photodynamic therapy in place of radiation to kill the cancer as opposed to an additional surgery. It essentially uses a laser to kill the skin cells, and may affect his voice in the long run.

That is pretty much where the situation is at. Most likely he will be fine and none of us are too worried at this point, especially him. However, he wants people to learn a lesson from this and not make the same mistake he made. According to the doctor, he has never seen this type of tumor on a non-smoker. So, for all you smokers, stop being idiots and quit today. It won't be any easier tomorrow. And for all you social smokers, stop being ridiculous. It doesn't make you cool, and it doesn't have any benefits. Don't think the bad won't happen to you, because that was the train of thought in my family before this.

Laryngeal Cancer
Photodynamic Therapy

First of all, I apologize that it has been so long since my last post. This week has been pretty busy as I try to get ahead of schedule so I can go skiing this weekend.

I saw this cartoon and thought it was hilarious. Although I am a Bush supporter, especially compared to his challengers, I find his spending to be irresponsible and dangerous.

Also, I was reading National Review and there was an interesting article by Rob Long on why Hollywood is so liberal. The following quote was my favorite. It represents exactly what I find so hypocritical about many democrats.

"Say what you like about the Democratic-party agenda--which is essentially, all about having peaceful U.N.-sanctioned gay weddings in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge-- it's a nice agenda, for nice people. It's idealistic and generous and childishly hopeful, and if you've spent all day lying on the telephone and screwing your client out of his money and yelling at your assistant for bringing you the wrong kind of water and paying your Guatemalan maid sub-minimum wages, then maybe you, too, might need a little John Kerry in your life to make you feel good about yourself."

I don't have time tonight to write anything of significance, but tomorrow I will write about some important personal news.

So, I pass the opinion buck off to Neptunus Lex who wrote a very interesting piece on how people are beginning to hold onto their political beliefs in an almost religious fervor. Here is a part I found particularly thoughtful:

Neptunus Lex:

First, I don't need to see this propagandistic tripe in my church bulletin. I don't blame the secretary who put it in there, she probably didn't even read it. I blame the guy who offered this up as an announcement, never for a moment criticizing the underling premise. Probably never even seeing it there. It fit with his world view.

Second, I've been in my country's service, man and boy, for nearly 26 years now. I stood watch and sailed the seas and flew the heights with death flying on my wing when the two great superpowers locked wills and fought by proxy in a contest between personal freedom and democratic choice versus dehumanizing socialist utopianism. I've lost far too many friend along the way, both during the cold war and after, to hear someone try to tell me that I've been duped by plutocrats and oligarchs.

I have two faiths: Faith in God, and faith in America. But these two faiths occupy separate spheres in my psyche, and I resent like hell when someone tries to use the pulpit or the church to proselytize for a political view not supported by scripture. That's not what I go there for.

Next, my faith in this country means that I'm fully aware that we make mistakes - we are not always right, and even when right we are not always elegant about explaining ourselves. We crash into the furniture sometimes. While being fully aware of all these things, I am still convinced that their is no greater power for secular good than what we represent, that we are the last, best hope for mankind against the darkness in men's souls that is always lurking, always waiting for a chance, always testing for weakness. And I'm OK with questioning authority, and I'm fine with politicians paying the price at the polls for flawed judgment or duplicity.

But don't you dare try to tell me that there's some straight line vector from Naziism to American democracy, not when my father and his generation spent so much blood and treasure fighting it. No, I won't even buy a theoretical parralel.

And don't you dare try to tell me that politicians here don't pay the price for their malfeasance because we're not really a democratic country.

Don't you dare try to tell me that the only path to real democracy is to reject my political views and hew to yours.

Don't you dare.

I encourage you to read the entire piece here.

I got this link from Geoffrey over at Dog Snot Diaries. Let me just say that Colin Powell is the man. It is nice to see someone in Washington that doesn't take any crap, besides Rumsfeld. It's a shame Powell won't run for president, because he is exactly the kind of leader we need.
Powell Lays the Smack Down

So, I stayed up late last night making some changes to the page format. I added the picture of me in front of the sphinx in Giza. No, that's not photoshoped. It is funny if you look at a big version of it, it looks like one of those things you get at Disney World while standing in front of a blue screen. Anyways, here is my dilemma, I can't get the page to look great in every internet browser. I guess Microsoft Internet Explorer is different than Netscape, Mozilla, or Safari. Thus, when I make it for IE, the picture and links in the sidebar get pushed to the bottom with the others. If I make it for Mozilla, the columns just look overly large in IE. Now, I am not sure what most people are using to view this blog, I assume the vast majority use IE. For this reason, I would like people to comment and tell me what internet browser they use. (For those of you who don't know, if you click on a blue E to open the internet, then it is Microsoft IE) This would help me in deciding who I should design things for. Don't be shy.

Also, my thanks go out to Eric, the computer science guru, for answering any questions I have and providing me with advice.

My friend John sent me a video last night that is more than a little disturbing. I found a couple of news articles about it on Yahoo that were fairly recent, so I assume that not many people have seen the video. It is basically a rap video made by three Muslims in England promoting and encouraging violence against the West. They use the word kuffar, which means infidel in the video in reference to Bush, Blair, the Saudi royals, and a variety of other leaders. While they rap in front of the Palestinian flag, they wave a Koran and pistol at the camera. Most of the video consists of various clips showing things such as a Chechen rebel gunning down a Russian soldier, the rappers laughing at scenes of the WTC, Powell and Rice being called slaves. Anyways, I have decided to include a link that has the video on it. No use attempting to describe what is indescribable. Make sure to click back and read the rest of my thoughts on it.

Video

What is striking is their use of the Marines in the beginning of it, on so many levels. First, they show the picture to inspire hatred towards Americans by illustrating us as ruthless murderers. Yet, I am sure there is a context to the scene which we as viewers do not get. The matter is that it is a war zone, is it really uncommon for one side to cheer when they have survived at the expense of their enemy. Especially considering that many of these Marines were operating off of adrenaline, I am sure their reflections on the matter were very different than they were at that moment. These are warriors that are trained to kill, in their nation's interest. I have no doubt an Iraqi would do any different were it he that killed an American. This is not saying it is right by any means, just that it is to be expected in a war zone. As for the interview with the young Marine, it seemed to me that they abruptly cut off what he was going to say for a reason. It seemed like what he was getting at was that at first it was all, "hell yeah," but after they realized what actually happened it was a very different feeling. Yet, you don't get to hear how he finishes his response. However, the most ridiculous thing of including that clip was that it shows hypocrisy to the fullest. The rappers are using the actions of killing as justification for more killing. They call us pigs because we laugh while one Iraqi is killed, but find it perfectly acceptable to laugh at the end when 3,000 Americans are killed.

Overall, I think the video speaks for itself. The first time I watched it I was sick to my stomache. I can't believe humans could find such a thing inspiring. Watching a video showing a bunch of terrorists being gunned down would make me equally uneasy. Anyways...

This brings me to the issue of militant Islamic fundamentalism. Although I believe it necessary to deal strongly with these groups through our own force, this will not stop it. What will stop the fundamentalism is increased living standards and education. The use of force alone may win us battles, but certainly not the war. As many people have said, every time we go into a Muslim neighborhood and kick down a door in search of a terrorist, we create 10 more. We need to provide alternatives to these desperate people. They turn to suicide and violence because the prospect of heaven is the only thing to look forward to in their lives. Hell, if I lived in a dirt hut, with no money or education, and the only education I had received was the memorization of the Koran, and someone told me I would go to heaven to kill for my religion, it might seem like a good deal. We need to reach out and give these people a reason to live, a reason that life is more valuable than death. There needs to be more schools built that teach something besides the Koran, that teach hope. Whatever happens, this will be a long fought battle, one that we are only at the beginning of.

While on the topic, one thing I do not understand is the Muslims' tolerance of the fundamentalist violence. Look at the recent attacks in Iraq where over 100 Iraqis were killed by Muslims. At what point do they become fed-up with the violence, which is really one of the only things standing in the way of a prosperous country. Imagine how much more would be built or organized if the coalition forces did not need to worry about security threats. Imagine how much longer we would be willing to stay and help if there weren't soldiers dying daily. These few militant Muslims are hurting the entire region, not helping it. They attack us, use their own people as body shields, and then blame us when civilians get killed. But, I guess what fuels that is a distrust of America and our motives, which I can't blame them when it comes to certain issues. We no doubt did some shady things during the Cold War, but we have also done a lot of good in the world. Thus, our country needs to earn their trust by fixing the situations we become involved in, regardless of the violence, and especially in peace.

This reminds me of reading a couple months ago that there was supposedly a plan to hijack a plane and fly it into the Vatican. This would be the dumbest possible action these terrorists could do. Attack the center of both Catholicism and Christianity, which is completely peaceful. Such an event would do little more than spark the Crusades part III, and probably the biggest conflict in the history of the world. One I am sure would end in Christian victory, at an unthinkable cost on both sides. This would in no way promote or further Islamic fundamentalism, rather it would end it. At least in my opinion.

Well, this is a difficult topic at best, and this post is mostly a bunch of rambling. But, it is hard to fully discuss and attempt to solve the issue, regardless of ones beliefs.

Story on Video
Vatican

As a college and soon to be medical student, there is very little I can do to make a difference over in Iraq. I wish I was in the position to actually take part like these people who are now in Iraq acting as translators for the US government. At a time when there are thousands of American service-people who daily risk their lives to create a free and democratic Iraq for future generations, with little or no personal benefit, I think every American should make even the smallest sacrifice for the cause. A couple of weeks ago, after reading about Spirit of America, I sent them $25 to aide in their mission. This is an organization that provides toys, medical supplies, school supplies, and other items to Iraqis in order assist in making their lives better and restoring their pride. I am a firm believer that the quickest way to a free Iraq is for the Iraqis to become proud of their country and the potential it has, while understanding that Americans want nothing more then for them to succeed. My $25 bought 25 frisbees, if even one of those gets in the hands of a child I think it was worth it. If even one Iraqi goes, "you know, maybe the Americans aren't as bad as I thought," then that would be worth $100. I look at this 2 tons of frisbees and am very happy that I had a role in this.

I urge you to make a similar monetary sacrifice in support of the effort. It might have even the slightest effect in Iraq. It is the least one can do, especially when you look at what the 1st Marine Division is doing. They were the ones that pulled down the statue of Saddam, and now they are on their way back. They have been to Iraq not once, but twice now. Instead of filling their cargo containers with items to make life easier on the other side of the world like food, dvd's, magazines, gear, etc., they are devoting precious space to supplies for the Iraqis.

Regardless of your views on whether the war was justified, the fact is that Iraqis need help. Even the smallest amount makes a difference. Click on the link below, or under the links section, and contribute.
Spirit of America

One of the college Republicans sent out an email today with a great link. The link is from a website that has a series of documentaries filmed during the anti-war protests that occurred last year. However, unlike just about every documentary out there, they have a conservative viewpoint. Basically, this guy named Evan Maloney goes out and interviews protesters on their opinions and asks them a series of questions. What is surprising is how people can protest something without having the most basic understanding of the situation. Rather than explain their positions based on logic, they often resort to calling Bush a Nazi, or bringing up some conspiracy to take over the world to justify their feelings. Instead of looking at the facts, they concentrate on emotions. Some of the people are just wacko's. One guy literally says something along the lines of, "I don't think so clearly" as he tries to answer the simplest of questions. That's is not to say all the protesters were like this, and there are some that come off intelligently. However, what is even more appalling is the protesters' attempts to censor this filming by covering the camera, or in one video they actually try to rope the pro-war protesters off with string. All they were doing was marching peacefully in protest of the protest, and this guy goes, "I want you to leave or I will get the cops." Doesn't this guy get it????? Get the cops????? For doing the same thing they are. Talk about hypocricy. This demonstrates a dangerous trend of people to championing free-speech, but squelching any speech that doesn't coincide with their opinions. In one tape, you have a guy shouting about how the US govt. censors the pro-Palestine protesters, while one of them passively threatens violence against the camera crew by repeatedly asking, "are you nervous," with a menacing look. I won't even get into the anti-semitism that the documentaries show at some of the protests. Also, Maloney actually interviews Michael Moore, and despite my dislike of Moore, I thought he came off very well and the manner in which he conducted himself actually moved him up a notch in my book. He is now scum, as opposed to shit, no just kidding. Anyways, look at the videos for yourself. I found them very interesting.

Videos

I added the link for the homepage of that site to my links menu to the right.

I am becoming thoroughly disgruntled with the book we are forced to read in my American Government course. The book titled, "The Democratic Debate, an Introduction to American Politics" by, Miroff, Seidelman, and Swanstrom, 3rd ed. is so liberally biased, I think it serves to indoctrinate, not educate. The authors state their viewpoints in the book's preface and my professor stated that some of us would hate the book. Well, guess what, I DO!!! Instead of presenting the issues from an objective viewpoint, or even discussing both liberal and conservative viewpoints with equal emphasis, it is filled with non-stop jabs at conservative ideology. This is most clearly demonstrated in the political cartoons the authors have included with the text. Below you will find links to four of the "This Modern World" cartoons actually found in the text. I should note that after looking at every cartoon in the book, not one was even slightly aimed at liberals like these are towards conservatives and Bush. The one I find particularly distasteful, unjust, and misleading, especially for a textbook, is the one on Bush nominating Satan for the Supreme Court. I realize Tom Tomorrow is trying to be cheeky, but even considering such a circumstance given Bush's religious nature is borderline offensive. Check them out, tell me what you think. Do feel these should be in a college text about the foundations of American Government?

Satan Nomination
Bush with a "small empty head"
Bush destroying world through globalization
Replacing people with robots to improve economy

I have an exam tomorrow, not much time to post so I have added a couple cool links instead.

Woman Strikes Oil with Toilet

Not the Pong You Probably Remember, Much, Much Harder

Coalition & Kerry

I just added a link to Iraq Now, which is a blog by an Army officer over in Iraq. It's interesting to hear what he has to say. He linked this article, and I thought it was pretty funny. It talks about how the coalition is mocked by democrats, but it contains the majority of the EU, G7, and NATO members. Also good stuff about Kerry and his attempts to appeal to veterans, but not support our current troops.

Article

Stuck in B.F.E.

While Jacqui and I were studying in Spain, one of our friends was going to the American University of Cairo. After talking with him, Jacqui became really interested in the idea of visiting Egypt. Two of the major benefits were that, one we had a friend there to show us around, two the airfare is a hell of a lot cheaper from Europe than the United States. I was more than a little hesitant at the time, especially because it was the November before the most recent Iraq war, and it was during Ramadan. After some convincing on her part, I realized that it would truly be a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was especially hard to say no once we found airfare for $350 round-trip, Madrid to Cairo, on Air France. Since I tend to research almost every decision I make, I decided to go online and asses the security in Egypt. I was a little hesitant when I discovered a 1997 incident where a tour bus full of Germans was stopped in the desert. It is not uncommon in third world countries for there to be multiple check points where you stop and armed men board the bus and look at everyone's credentials. These tourists thought this was what was happening. However, once the men boarded the bus, they opened fire killing about 60 tourists if I remember correctly. Now, as if it wasn't bad enough that there was terrorism going on like this, it was especially bad that it was aimed at tourists, since there would be no fooling anybody that I was anything but a tourist. If not a tourist, maybe CIA... ohh even better. I also read about the roads in Egypt being extremely dangerous. I guess it is not uncommon for drivers to go stealth mode (no lights on), while driving at night. This in combination with poor road maintenance and landmine filled sand having a tendency to blow over roads was beginning to make me slightly nervous. However, Paul, my friend in Egypt assured me it was safe and told me about the tourist police. After that 1997 slaughter, their tourist industry tanked, so they created a police force just to look out for travelers. Also, buses with tourists usually travel in armed convoys through the desert (but was this a good sign?????). The U.S. embassy in Cairo also assured me it was safe. So, off to the middle-east we went.

I could write a book on what I saw in Egypt and what it was like, but that is not really the focus of this story. If anyone cares, let me know and I'll discuss it at another time. But, basically it is Hot, Dirty, Crowded, Poor, and Smoggy. Cairo is considered to have the worst air pollution in the world. It is hard to breath, there are millions of busted ass clunkers driving around the streets just spewing smoke out of the tailpipes. At the end of the day you can wipe your forehead with a white cloth and turn it black from all of the dirt on your face. Also, it was interesting being down there during Ramadan because we could see the Muslim religion in full swing.

Now, tons of people go to Egypt, but like I mentioned above, they do so in tours. That's not how Jacqui and I travel, we go local. Walk the streets, ride in cabs, subways, buses; it's the only way to really get the feel of a city. Needless to say, whiteys walking down the street in Cairo is not a normal thing. We certainly got stared at anytime we were not in a major tourist spot. The thing with Islam is, the Egyptians won't steal from you, they might try to screw you over by overcharging on the cheap cheap prices, but you don't have to worry about pickpockets or rape, etc. It seems to be all or nothing for the most part. They either leave you alone, or they blow you up for being an infidel. (Paul will probably yell at me for saying that, but I said it)

Now that the background is set... time for the story. So Paul went on a trip with a bunch of people to the Sinai peninsula and climbed what is believed to be Mt. Sinai, the place where Moses got the 10 Commandments. Jacqui and I thought this sounded really cool, and wanted to fit it into our schedule. After hanging out in Cairo for 5 days, seeing the pyramids, sphinx, mummies, etc. we decided to take a bus to Mt. Sinai and Dahab, Dahab is on the Red Sea north of Sharm al-Sheikh. If we took an Egyptian bus to get there, it would cost about 15 bucks, and take over 8 hours. Not a bad deal. So we take a cab to the bus stop and the adventure begins. Jacqui and I, armed only with a Lonely Planet Arabic language guide, spend 10 minutes just trying to figure out which bus is ours. Everyone tries to help, but 7 guys shouting and pointing quickly becomes confusing. I think we asked about a million times that we were on the right bus because I can't imagine if we would have gotten on the wrong one. Who knows where we would have been 8 hours into the ride when we realized our mistake. We make it on the bus, and it is like you typical Greyhound. We wait 30 minutes before it leaves, we are probably driving for about 10 minutes when we pull in another stop. Another 30 minute wait ensues. Then we drive about 30 minutes, and there is yet another stop. At this point we are getting a little worried. But, we were now outside of Cairo, nobody spoke English, and there wasn't another foreigner on the bus. Eventually we finally get on the road, we had no idea if it was the road we were supposed to be on, but there was some comfort in forward motion. At one point we stopped at a rest area in the middle of the desert. Jacqui and I got off the bus, and it was like one of those western movies where everyone just stops. If only there was the "der, ner, ner" music, it would have been perfect. Every pair of eyes watched us no matter what we did. We quickly made our way to the bathrooms, because we had no idea when the next time the bus would stop. I walk up to the bathroom, and every Egyptian is walking right in. When I go to enter, this lady stops me and tells me I must pay to get in through hand motions. She wanted about 10 cents to use the bathroom, like I give a damn about 10 cents, but I was pissed. I wanted to shout discrimination, but these people were poor, I was comparatively rich, what did I expect them to do. Considering it charity, I handed over the money and entered the nastiest bathroom ever. They don't use toilets over there, just the porcelain hole in the ground. Not a problem, I was expecting as much. What I wasn't expecting was the mounds of shit piled up on each side of the hole. So, I stand about 10 feet away from the hole and pee in that general direction. No sink, no soap, nothing. Had I known this, I would have just pissed outside, I mean, I am standing in the worlds biggest litter box. Oh well. I leave, find Jacqui, and briskly walk to the safety of our unknown destination bus.

We keep riding, pass under the Suez Canal, ok, at least we are going in the right direction. I can't help but look at the sand coving the road in front of us and think about it being filled with landmines. The fact we were sitting in the front of the bus didn't help my calm my fears. That is until we get to the first checkpoint. The bus comes to a stop, and three men board the bus, a couple with Kalashnikov knockoffs, and one with a sidearm. They go up and down the aisle, checking everyone's documents. I take an effort to hide mine to the other passengers, the last thing I want them seeing is United States of America on the front of mine. All I can envision as I hand this man my passport is that he will see I'm American, order me off the bus, make me get on my knees, and put a bullet in the back of my head as an enemy of Islam. All while Jacqui is kneeling next to me. Thankfully, he just looked at it, and handed it back. However, Jacqui was not so lucky.

Guy: vat contree
Jacqui: U.S.
Guy: vat contree
Jacqui: U.S.
Guy: VAT CONTREE
Jacqui: U.S.
Me: America
Jacqui: It says it on the passport.
Me: In English, they don't read English.

Once he heard America he handed it back and proceeded towards the back of the bus.

We keep driving and the minute dusk comes about, the bus swerves off the road and comes to a stop. Here we are, 6 hours away from third world civilization, and the bus is broke down. Well, actually, the bus was stopping for all the Muslims to eat and smoke. During Ramadan nothing is supposed to be passed through the lips during daylight, so they must have been pretty damn hungry. We get back on the road and there is another checkpoint. This time, the armed men grab one of the guys on the front of the bus, and pull him off. Nobody on the bus even questions it. I figure the same fate somehow awaits me, but thankfully not. The bus left without that guy, who knows whatever became of him.

By this time we have been on the bus for 8 hours, it is dark, and I am really starting to get nervous. We would go 50 miles without seeing a single light. Here we were on this bus, on the other side of the world, in the middle of the desert, by ourselves, with no way of communicating. The feeling of desperation was starting to set in. I am just glad I didn't know what was about to go down.

All of a sudden, the bus screeches to a halt. The bus driver starts yelling St. Katerine, St. Katerine, St. Katerine, and forcefully motions for us to get off the bus. The thing was, there was nothing there. No city, no sign, no nothing, just a crossroad. I am thoroughly freaked by this point. At least on the bus there are other people. This guy wanted us to get off on the side of the road in the middle of Butt Fucking Egypt, by ourselves. Probably looking like deer in headlights, we climb off the bus. It closes its doors, and roars away. I am thinking, well Drew, look what you have gotten the both of you into. It is mountainous, we are standing at a crossroad, and there are lights about 5 miles away that I can see. No map, no weapon, no clue. Now, I can't imagine how freaked I would be if someone drove me in a bus to the backwoods of Upper Peninsula Michigan and dropped me off. Let alone the fact I was on the other side of the damn world. It was one of those moments I wish I could have teleported myself wherever I wanted.

All of a sudden, a pick-up truck comes out of nowhere and stops in front of us. The guy says, "climb Mt. Sinai" and points for us to get in the bed of the truck. I am thoroughly convinced this guy is up to no good. You just expect people in Egypt to try and take advantage of you. With absolutely no option at hand, Jacqui and I climbed into the bed of the truck. We speed off down this mountain road. As we are driving 60 mph down this windy dirt road, with mountains rising above us on either side, I become convinced we are going to die. The Taliban had picked us up, were driving out to where nobody could hear our screams, and they were going to rob and kill us. I honestly thought that I was going to die. Most of my life I feared the thought of impending death, but it wasn't as bad as I had expected. At one point I just accepted it and that was a weird feeling. It was like, well, I fucked up, if this isn't a crappy way to go out. I then proceeded to repeatedly say Hail Mary's and apologized to my mother. Meanwhile, Jacqui is cowering in the corner of the pick-up bed, with this look of pure terror on her face.

A couple of a minutes later, we pull into this little hacienda type hotel thing and the guys tell us to get out. We enter the place, and come to find out, we were exactly where we needed to be. I am now convinced those were angels that came and got us. I don't know what we would have done without them. Since it was only about 7 pm, and you don't climb the mountain till 2 am to see the sunrise, we sat in this little shop thinking we should just get the hell back to Cairo, asap. This random Egyptian actually offered to drive the both of us back to Cairo for $100 U.S., that's like a 16 hour round trip cab ride for 100 bucks. This guy needs to set up shop in New York. Ever cautious it was a scam, Jacqui, while pulling a clawing cat off her leg said, "I don't want your car ride, your camel ride, your monkey ride, or whatever you are selling, but thank you." It was pretty funny in retrospect. Anyways, we climbed the mountain, saw the most beautiful sunrise, went snorkeling in the Red Sea the next day, saw Saudi Arabia, and made the long trip back to Cairo, all without problems. Although the ride back was about 12 hours, they played this movie in Arabic the entire time, during the middle of the night. I almost lost my mind. I think the defining quote was:

Jacqui: "Are you enjoying those M&M's" (her last ones for the 12 hour trip)

Me: "Yeah... but not as much as I'd enjoy some nasal spray right now" (with my hair sticking up, one eye perma-closed, and Arabic dialogue from what I coined the Egyptian Gone with the Wind resonanting through the speakers)

Overall, we made it back to Madrid safe and sound, with a cache of stories to tell.

There is no doubt that college campuses are hostile places for conservative students, some definitely more than others. At my school there seems to be two major political stances, disinterest and radical. Some don't have an opinion on politics and just let the radicals shout and holler without giving it a glance. While the majority of those who are interested in politics are so leftist I sometimes wonder when the campus revolution is going to occur. Nothing is funnier than seeing these kids not shower for a week and wear their Che Guevara shirts around, talking about how the poor are oppressed. The same kids who go to a 30k a year private school and who's parents are most likely in the top 5% in terms of national wealth. The best part is that these same kids will grow up one day to take over their parent's business and continue the tradition. I think this is my main gripe about democrats. They pretend to appeal to the poor, but it is mostly out of desire for votes, not true compassion. If they cared so much they would donate their money and dedicate themselves to caring for people. And no, Congress does not count. I am talking about nurses, social workers, police, volunteers, etc. At least republicans can be honest about their greed. They have wealth, and admit they want to keep it. The dems with power also have wealth, and they keep it by saying how the poor are being mistreated to benefit the rich. Hmmm, irony...

Now, don't get me wrong, although a lot of people around here might consider me a neo-con, I am certainly not. Maybe in comparison to them I seem so. I would say I am libertarian if anything, but since there are not enough libertarians to have effect in the government, I am republican by default. I don't agree with the republicans recent financial recklessness, I am pro-choice, I don't oppose civil unions (not gay marriage, but civil unions), and feel that the republicans are too lax when it comes to monitoring big business and environmental problems. However, to me these issues are the lesser of democrat evils. The rate at which the dems are chipping away at the values of this country are certainly alarming. Although not a super religious person, I feel this recent push for the separation of church and state is unjust. This country was not founded on the idea that there can be no influence of church on state, rather it was founded on Christian ideals. What was intended was freedom of religion and that citizens could not be persecuted based on their religious beliefs. The founders never intended the 10 Commandments to be stricken from a court room, or the word God to be taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance. Regardless of one's religious beliefs, who can argue against the 10 Commandments being just and giving 10 rules that should be maintained in any civil society. Also, I believe the social service aspect of the government are getting out of control. I have no problem giving money or assistance to those who have less than I, but I want to choose who is worthy of such aid. Not the government.

I am probably most conservative on the issue of foreign policy. I believe that the United States has a certain responsibility as the only superpower. Sometimes this entails acting on our own to achieve means we feel are justified. Other times it means looking out for our own interests, as sinister as others consider this. Nothing irritates me more than listening to people talk about how we should not be a unilateralist. Even funnier is when countries like France and Germany slap this label on us. If I remember correctly, wasn't it the French who tried to conquer the world under Napoleon, or maintain colonization through repression by the French Legion. Or, hey, let's talk about Germany. Should we start with World War I or World War II, or maybe go a little farther back in history. Meanwhile, the United States is demonized for pursuing national interests by these very same countries. The only reason they fear the power of the United States is because they realize what atrocities they committed when the power was in their hands. On a side note, why do you think there is a European Union? Having lived over there and watching its actions, I am certain the only reason for such a pact is to give the European countries a sliver of a chance at grasping power from the United States. They all had it and lost it, and now are willing to do what it takes to regain it. The union certainly isn't due to love of each other, most of these countries hate their neighbors, and the country on the border is always considered ruder, lazier, and less cultured. Yet, there is no way their economies can compete with that of the United States without each country making nationalistic sacrifices of pride for increased world influence.

Ok, this post has gotten much longer than I intended. Let me get to the point. So I am in this government class where the teacher is extremely liberal. I give him a lot of credit because he tries very hard to portray all sides of an issue. But, just as I could not fully represent liberal viewpoint, he often fails at expressing the conservative view. I feel I am forced to take a more conservative stance in the class than I normally ascribe to, simply to provide the other side for some students who may question liberal ideas but are unsure about their own beliefs. Now, I consider this task somewhat important, and I have risked my grade in the class because of it. Not so much that I think he would grade me down out of spite. But more to the extent that when I write a paper with conservative ideas, it is much easier for him to find criticism than if I regurgitated his own beliefs. I am becoming convinced that his and my brains are just hard wired different ways. Its like trying to speak with someone in a different language. An example was the topic of North Korea and nuclear proliferation. It was apparent that he felt there was hypocrisy in that the United States would attack Iraq for having WMD and leave North Korea alone when they are in a much more advanced state. His only conservative point was that some claim that Iraq would teach N. Korea a lesson. At this point it took everything in me not to scream. What I wanted to say........ "What the hell are you talking about? Don't you have any clue about military tactics or capabilities. The reason we don't attack Korea like we did Iraq is because there would be a slaughter of S. Koreans. Kim Jong Il has a massive army just sitting at the border and thousands of missiles aimed at Seoul. It would take only hours for him to decimate that entire city with rockets and blitz the border if he believed there was the slightest indication that we would attack, resulting of hundreds of thousands of casualties. Not to mention he could already have nukes. Here is an analogy regarding Iraq, N. Korea, and nukes. The police see two criminals. One is outside a gun store and walking towards it. They shoot to prevent him from entering the store and obtaining an arsenal, thus ensuring their safety. Meanwhile, the second criminal is already in the store, locked and loaded, waiting for the police. Do you really think they are going to use the same tactic as they did with the first man? Of course not."

Anyways, this is long, and its late. Tomorrow I plan on writing the story about the most frightening time in my life. Should be good reading.

Here is a joke that kind of pertains to what I wrote above.

A daughter comes home from college filled with a new found interest in politics. She ridicules her father for being a Republican and lectures him on the values of a Democrat. She talks about the necessity of welfare and other social aid programs. To which the father responds:

Father: How are your grades?
Daughter: I worked really hard and got all A's.
F: That's good. How did your roommate do?
D: She did horrible. So far she has a 2.0, C average. It's because she was completely irresponsible and never did her homework, studied, and went out to the bar almost every night.
F: So why don't you give her some of your A's in exchange for some of her C's, and that way you can both have a B average.
D: But that is not fair! I worked so hard for those grades, while she did nothing.
F: Welcome to the Republican party.

The rejection I made mention of yesterday was from the University of Michigan Medical School. I was not completely surprised that I received it, but still feel it was unjustified. The problem with writing this is that I am not sure exactly where to start. Let me preface by saying that UofM is arguably one of the best schools in the country, both in terms of undergraduate and graduate programs. Almost all of their professional schools are ranked in the top 10, including their med school which is ranked at 8 for research schools by US News & World Reports. I applied there as an undergrad. and was not only accepted, but got a partial scholarship. This is something almost unheard of, and as the recent Supreme Court case has demonstrated, being accepted as a white male is a feat in itself. Friends of mine had 4.0 gpa's, extra curricular activities, and high ACT scores that got rejected. Almost my entire life I was on the track to become a Wolverine. In fact, the theme of my room as a child was "Go Blue." Yet, at the last minute I got persuaded to attend the college I go to now, which is almost the polar opposite, especially in terms of size. Although there were many times when I thought about transferring to UofM, I always stayed and I believe this was for the best. First of all, I have obtained a great education, and second I met Jacqui. She also almost became a wolverine, she had a roommate and everything lined up. We sometimes joke that if one of us would have went there, the other most likely have done the same through fate. This is not to say that the institution I attend now is of lesser caliber than UofM, in fact, it has the highest average gpa and ACT scores of any undergraduate college in Michigan, and is the oldest undergrad institution in the state. The point here is that Michigan is a great school, one that I had the opportunity of attending. And I admit that the Wolverines will always be my favorite football team.

However, I believe their medical school has lost sight of its purpose. As a state university, it is funded by my tax dollars to provide an education for in-state students. Yet, their admissions have consistently been moving more and more in the direction of a private school. The 2003 matriculants were 45% in-state, and 55% out-of-state. I think that figure is absolutely ridiculous. This unacceptable proportion of out-of-staters is a result of their egotistical attempts at upseating the ivies from their positions at the top of the rankings. In order to maintain such high gpa and MCAT averages, they actively attempt to recruit applicants away from Harvard, Stanford, UC San Fran, Duke, Johns Hopkins, etc. just to increase their national status. I don't see anything wrong with a university trying to improve the quality of education or the recognition they receive, but when it is at the expense of their charter this is not right. Another possible motive is the increased tuition the school receives from out-of-state matriculants. Regardless, I believe UofM is doing a disservice to the state of Michigan with such practices.

I myself am quite competitive among med. school applicants. I may not have come from an Ivy league school (hell, I am the first member of my immediate family to attend college), or have the highest MCAT score, but I do have a strong foundation. During undergrad I have maintained a perfect gpa, majored in the difficult field of chemistry, worked and volunteered in nursing homes, done publication quality chemistry research, worked as a lifeguard, worked at a summer camp with kids, traveled through 15 countries, volunteered at an orphanage, am an Eagle Scout, and ended world hunger. Ok, the last one was a lie. But honestly, that is a lot of stuff, not that I think I am special because of it or anything, just that I have a strong foundation. I think perhaps the two biggest blemishes on my application were my MCAT score and my race. In regards to my MCAT score, it is above average for people who are accepted into medical school, but certainly below the UofM average. Do I think this means I will be a bad doctor? Of course not. If anything, it is a result of having 1.5 months to study, while undergoing the decompression associated with being out of the country for 6 months. That in addition to not taking any MCAT courses, just myself and the book, all while taking two difficult chemistry courses. One of which was the dreaded PChem. This is not an excuse by any means. Rather an explanation. I get the feeling that UofM admissions is so numbers heavy that they didn't even read my file. It's like they opened it up, saw my undergrad institution, my MCAT, my race, and put it back in the pile. I had a completed secondary there for about 6 months before they decided to get rid of me for good.

An interesting story pertaining to this topic occurred during an interview I had at Georgetown. Now Gtown is not nearly as highly ranked as UofM, but it is still a difficult school to get interviewed at. I believe they receive over 10,000 applications, and interview less than 1,000. A half of which get accepted or waitlisted. So, I am sitting in this room with applicants from around the country, about 10 of us in total. Somehow the topic of UofM came up, as it turned out, nearly every applicant in the room, all of which were not even Michigan residents, had either been interviewed or accepted at UofM. Talk about a kick to my groin. Obviously I must have some qualifications if I am interviewing at another school with all of these applicants, yet my own state university won't give the time of day. It was then I realized something was just not right about the policies of UofM.

Also, I have two other friends with very similar situations to my own who got rejected from UofM on the same day I did.

Overall, despite seeming potentially bitter on this blog about the subject, I am mostly disappointed that I was rejected from UofM. It's not even so much that I was dead-set on going there. But more that I wanted the decision to be mine, not theirs. In the long-run I am not sure I would have been happy going there. Many of the students there are a little too gung-ho academic for me. As I have written in other posts, I am extremely anti-intellectual, and would most likely become frustrated in such an environment. I think a more "common person" med. school is really where I would be happy at. Especially since I am more interested in practicing medicine than doing medical research, something UofM excels at. Regardless, I think it is wrong for a school funded by state tax dollars to turn away such qualified in-state applicants (not only me), in favor of people from other states. Who knows, maybe one day UofM's wish will come true and they will finally be allowed into the Ivy League club, and attain the status they think they deserve.

I have been to 21 countries, that seems like a lot until you look at the map.




create your own visited country map

If only the Panthers would have made those two attempts at a two point conversion. I didn't really have ties to either team, but since the Patriots won it a couple year ago, I wanted the Panthers to be victorious tonight. That game was definitely a series of ups and downs. The first three quarters, minus about four minutes, were so slow and boring I had to fight to keep myself awake. And the remaining 20 minutes was awesome big play fast paced football; just what I like to watch.

I found out some bad news from a Med school I was waiting to here from today. I don't have the time to talk about it today, but I will try and discuss the details tomorrow. Needless to say, I was rejected.