Oh I Just Can't Wait To Be King

Seriously. Who wouldn't want 50,000 topless virgins dancing for them? Is there a better way for courtship?

More Medical News

I actually think this is a kind of cool idea. It seems to be working, and the science behind it makes sense. Maybe the FDA should approve leeches and maggots for medicinal purposes, but it still looks like pot is a ways away.

Sidenote: Learned in lecture the other day that cocaine can be sold with a prescription. Apparently it's pharmaceutical qualities have been realized while pot's has not?

Huh?

Where do people get these ideas?


I like the little poem at the end. And people thought I was weird.

Woe to the medical profession

This article was in the news yesterday. I cannot believe that this is even an issue, espcially since this study just came out. How are doctors supposed to treat their patients and help reduce this obesity epidemic? The part that I don't understand is that the doctor could possibly lose the ability to practice medicine in the state because the board is considering revoking his license. Wow.

You're kidding, right?

While watching ESPN the other night, I heard this
story and was actually bothered by it. Most of y'all know that I was a college mascot for 2 years and would think that I would support a Mascot Hall of Fame. My biggest problem with the idea is that while the mascot never really changes, the man inside the mascot does. I've been told way to many times that people could tell who the mascot was based on the performance of who was inside. (Sometimes there were costume problems, like with tall, stupid Mr. Commodore.) I still don't believe that guy tried to give me a tip on how to mascot. It's nice to be recognized and all, but wouldn't every mascot eventually make it into the mascot hall of fame? I mean, how many NEW mascots come out every year? seriously now.

Asian and African Elephants, but now American Elephants

So some scientists and conservationists have had this wonderful idea. I personally think that while it would be good for the species involved and good for American tourism, it would be bad for Africa. While Africa certainly has other problems to worry about right now than keeping lions and elephants alive (like AIDs and civil war) losing their tourist industry to the US would be a major blow to helping pull Africa out of poverty.

Baby Got Back(pack)?

So have y'all seen the new Target ad featuring Sir Mix-A-Lot? If you haven't, click the link, then launch the channel red and click the girl with the pink backpack. Has Sir Mix-A-Lot stooped so low that to make a decent comeback he's now advertising for Target? wow.

Not now Blog, SOOOOOO tired....

well, after packing, driving 8 hours, and then unpacking, I have finally moved back into my apartment in Lubbock. I am too tired to do anything right now, except I know that I am going to go out later and drink with all the med students. I didn't have the energy to go to the grocery store, so dinner is consisiting of stale crackers and crystal light. This is just sad.

**** UPDATE ****
In my tired blogging state, I had forgotten to mention that while driving back up to Lubbock a rock flew up and hit my NEW windshield putting a nice little star in it. Pissed me off. Glad to say that I am getting it fixed via insurance tomorrow free of charge.

FYI -- Did you know that it is illegal to not have windshield wipers in Texas, but there is no legal requirement to have a windshield?

Jury Duty

Well, shortly after returning from Alabama for the Fricke-Nelson (Nelson-Fricke?) wedding, I was able to enjoy my civil duty and attend Jury Duty. Needing to be in the courthouse at 8 AM, I showed up at 7:45 and sat in a giant room with all the other prospective jurors. At about 8:30, they called a group of 45 of us to go and be questioned to possibly sit on a jury. Sadly, this didn't begin until about 10:30 in the morning. I was glad I brought along my little friend Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince. When we finally got underway, we were told that the case was going to be about possession of heroin and intent to distribute. Great I thought, this would be fun. I actually was hoping to be selected! During the questioning, I agreed with both of the attorneys most of the time, but did get into a conversation with them on a couple of points. While I may not be a court stenographer, the conversations went a little like this:

District Attorney (DA): "So if someone has six 'individual serving' wrappings of heroin, do you think they were intending to distribute the heroin? I mean, people don't carry six value pack bags of chips around to consume by themselves, do they?"

Me: "I don't think that that's enough to say that someone was intending to do something. You need more proof than that"

DA: "Well, what if they had 1000 dollars in a bag with the heroin? Would that do it for you?"

Me: "No. How do I know that they weren't going to go buy some, and the person selling didn't have enough? That's not enough for me to say they were intending to sell. Take an alcoholic for exampe. They go into a store and buy a six pack of beer, do I think that he is going to distribute the beer to others? Probably not."

DA: "Ok, so what would be enough for you to say they were intending to distribute?"

Me: (Facetiously) "Well, the heroin, money, a map, and a 'to-do list' that says 'Sell heroin to ______'"

** Laughter from the panel **

DA: "Now be serious. Do you think drug dealers work like that?"

Me: "No, I doubt they do. But I just don't that that is enough to say someone is intending to distribute drugs. Now, say I have an airplane ticket, a bag of luggage, and the car is gassed and turned on. I think you could reasonably infer that I am intending to go to the airport. With just drugs and money, I don't think that's enough to say they were intending to distribute."

*** end of conversation ***

And with the Defense:

Defense Attorney (DeA): "Do you think if someone signs a Consent to Search form, then they should be bound to that signature?"

Me: "Yes."

DeA: "But what if they were coerced into doing it?"

Me: "Well, that's different. They should be held to their signature if they did it on their own volition. If there was a gun to their head, then no."

DeA: "So intimidation can be a form of coercion?"

Me: "sure."

DeA: "Let's say you are surrounded by about 10 cops. Do you think they can be intimidating?"

Me: "Maybe. It depends on what has happened."

DeA: "Ok, here's a scenario: 'You are surrounded by 10 cops, and they tell you you don't have to sign this form, and the form says you don't have to give consent, but you are intimidated and feel that you should sign it anyway. Is that coercion?"

Me: "So the cops said you don't have to sign the form?"

DeA: "Yes."

Me: "And the form says you don't have to sign the form?"

DeA: "Yes."

Me: "Then I don't think you would feel intimidated into signing the form. You were told you didn't have to do it, and if you sign it anyway, you should be bound by that signature"

DeA: "So that's not coercion?"

Me: "No..."

We went on for a while about that. He kept changing the scenario around and trying to confuse us. Well, sadly I didn't get picked, and I don't know which attorney struck me. I was the 20th juror, which meant I had good odds of being picked, but they struck a ton of us. They ended up going until about the 40th juror. I just wonder if the gentleman was found guilty or not.

But I do pose a question: What form of evidence would you need to say that someone was intending to distribute drugs?

Back from Camp

So I returned Saturday afternoon from camp completely exhausted yet emotionally satisfied. For 6 of the last 7 years I have spent my birthday at camp (including the 21st) so it is always like a week long birthday party. (Sadly Iz, I don't think I can stretch it to a month). This year I got to be a Senior Counselor, which meant that I had more responsibilities and a couple of peons that worked under me. The last five years I was at camp I was a Junior Counselor, a.k.a. "Camp Bitch". I have gotten to rest up a bit, and I am now getting revamped to go back up to Lubbock on Wednesday to start school on Monday, Aug. 15th.

Favorite quote from Camp Periwinkle 2005:
"If you ever have one wish, don't wish for all girls to like you... because there are some ugly girls"
-- one of my ten-year-old campers