10 March 2006

Oh, what a beautiful day!

After the chilly, bleak gray day that was yesterday, today is a truly drop-down-on-your knees-and -thank- God -for- giving- you -senses days. It is beautiful outside not too hot or too cold. Not too windy or too still. The people are smiling and the birds are chirping and life is wonderful.

But then one stops and wonders about the plight of those less fortunate, whether they are here, in the US, and cannot afford their medications; or whether they are stuck in the strife in Darfur. I pray for them, but what good is prayer without true action. We could get the word out. Talk to people and open their eyes to what atrocities go on under this beautiful sun. What happens though when the people refuse to let their eyes be opened. They live in chosen ignorance and that cannot be a good for a people that live in a global village. I hope to someday go out into the world and help those that need help, but hopefully while I'm here I can help locally. Maybe you will, too.

This doesn't make today less beautiful, but it makes me more thankful for what I have and how much I can potentially help.
sam

06 March 2006

Hee hee hee hee

Now the NRA and those 2nd amendment lovers have one more statistic in their arsenal, but there go doctors. Just watch those malpractice insurance premiums jump...maybe I should switch career paths...hmmm

02 March 2006

The World Outside My Window

The World Outside My Window

How could I forget

So I completely forgot to talk about the best part of the history museum. They have on loan from the Smithsonian the Gemini Capsule!!! When I saw the exhibit I almost...almost...jumped up and down like a little kid. The capsule itself was so small. It was smaller than the front seats of an average car. Not only that, but two grown men were strapped in it for weeks at a time. I couldn't contain my awe. There were so many buttons and switches. I know I was talking to myself by the time I finished with the exhibit.
The age of space exploration would never have happened or would have been slow to come had it not been for the space race and the subsequent missions such as the Apollo mission that got the US to the moon. Check out the online exhibits to the at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.
In my opinion the rest of the museum paled in comparison. I even bought little astronaut figures from the gift shop...hee hee hee.
sam

Medicine Day

Yesterday was medicine day at the capitol. Medicine Day at the Capitol is sponsored in part by Pharma who sponsors us. My boss, a coworker, and I set up a booth thinking that all of these doctors would love to know how they could help their patients get free medications. I was so wrong.
First of all I noticed that in the room of at least 150 doctors and staff there were so few minorities that I could count them all on one hand. Second I noticed how everyone seemed so full of themselves. Humility was in short supply. I hope I don't end up like that...Please God I don't want to be a pompous jerk.
We set up before the lunch presentation and during lunch we watched a presentation by two lobbyists urging doctors to contact their senators and representatives on important legislation that concerned medicine, a presentation on tort reform, and a presentation on how the law makers should not allow certain professionals to perform procedures that they didn't go to school for. For instance optometrist (who have never been to medical school) should not be performing eye surgery and psychologists (same thing, never been to medschool) should not prescribe drugs. The speaker for tort reform was a man from Texas where tort reform has come a long way and has helped reduce malpractice insurance for physicians there. I was impressed how he included medical and osteopathic doctors in his speech.

So I learned a lot and the Museum of Oklahoma History is a very interesting building, but only three doctors stopped and asked about our program. It could be because we were set up in the back of the room or because their brains were full of other things. It may be best to contact their office managers and nurses.
I heard that the second shift was same.

After leaving the History Museum I decided that I was in a museum mood and headed over to the art museum. They had an exquisite temporary exhibit on Mexican masters and I was so moved by the opening piece that I had to actually sit down and stare at it for a few minutes. It was so beautiful and moving. ( The link doesn't show the entire piece, and I don't think that is the actual name, but you can continue looking if you wish)

I also saw the Chihully Exhibit and I know that in the past I have been critical about the museum spending so much to get such an exhibit. I was basing my opinions on the monolith of glass found in the foyer and that did nothing for me, but I have changed my mind because the exhibit itself is so exquisite and beautiful. The glass seems to be lit from within. The most breathtaking set-ups were the hall and the what I call the 'dr suess' vases of flowers. I take back every bad thing I've said about Chihully. If you have a chance go see the exhibit, and don't miss the chandelier made of waterford crystal that is tucked back by the theater.

Now, the Assani family is an odd lot of people, but I,Sam, am considered eccentric because I like museums....go figure.

That's it for now,
samola