You do not need to understand Italian to get this. FYI - Riccardo Patrese is a noted race car driver. The lovely young lass is his wife.
Edit: I just found the version with subtitles.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Thoughts on a New President
Congratulations, Mr. Obama. You are the 44th President of the United States of America. Even I, a moderate Republican, wish you well.
I have some random thoughts.
- I was picking up my dog from the kennel during the inauguration, so I missed quite a bit. I'm pretty sure I'll catch up in the re-runs.
- I asked the kennel manager, I nice woman about my age, if she was watching the festivities. She furrowed her brow and then rolled her eyes as if to say, I've got better things to do.
- I'm not sure if the undertone was that she was a Republican or just too busy. Perhaps there was a racial slant. I'm really not sure and frankly I don't care. She kept it to herself (other than the eye roll) and she takes really good care of my dog.
- John Roberts should have practiced his one and only job of administering the oath so he wouldn't flub his lines.
- Since this is a poker blog, I will note that President Barack Obama used the phrase, "We can no longer stand pat..."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Two Bits
Two bits of info to ponder. Or not. I'm not the boss of you.
1. I saw I licence plate today that said:
As if that wasn't enough, the license plate holder had it spelled out, just in case you didn't get the puzzle. It was on a Jaguar. I didn't get a look at the driver. It's probably a good thing.
2. It's been a long while since I pimped anyone. Here is a quick excerpt from Dr. Pauly as if you needed a reminder why he's the best in the business:
"I watched women's luge the other day and all I could think about is how the hell can I bet on it?"
Finally, head on over to BamBam and shout your encouragement into his comments. I'm mighty proud of what they're trying to do up in Bedrock.
That's all for now.
1. I saw I licence plate today that said:
IDH8ME2
As if that wasn't enough, the license plate holder had it spelled out, just in case you didn't get the puzzle. It was on a Jaguar. I didn't get a look at the driver. It's probably a good thing.
2. It's been a long while since I pimped anyone. Here is a quick excerpt from Dr. Pauly as if you needed a reminder why he's the best in the business:
"I watched women's luge the other day and all I could think about is how the hell can I bet on it?"
Finally, head on over to BamBam and shout your encouragement into his comments. I'm mighty proud of what they're trying to do up in Bedrock.
That's all for now.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Great Mysteries - Solved!
Today I solved a great mystery. My solution was eloquent, simple and, dare I say, brilliant.
It was also a total waste of time.
As a radiologist in the 21st century, most of what I do is on computers. You would not believe how complex this system is. We have 3 major components that must talk with each other and they aren't even written in the same language. Our major order entry site is DOS-based, for crying out loud.
Most radiologists only want to diagnose diseases. Believe me, that's the best part of my job. I'm a little different in that I spend extra time figuring out how the backbone works. In my opinion, it's the only way to know how to fix a problem if something goes wrong. Most docs are happy to let professionals handle this part. The problem is that when I discover a new and compelling mystery, I attack it with the same vigor as a mass in the abdomen. I must find out where it came from and why.
Without going into too much detail, I'll tell you that several x-rays were being cancelled even though the x-rays were actually shot. This presents a problem because the system thinks it never happened and cancels my interpretation. The finished report never gets to the ordering doctor because it has no where to go. I found out that the orders were being cancelled by the pharmacy. Without going into too much detail, I reasoned that the pharmacist wasn't deliberately cancelling the exam, it was a glitch in the system and it was an easy fix.
The problem is that when I explained this to the folks that can fix it, they got very excited. "We can study this!" they cried. "By checking when the order was cancelled, we can figure out when it's happening and move to correct the source problem."
"No. No. No." I replied. "It's just a glitch. . ." But it was too late. A mission was given and they were on task.
I'm going back to diagnosing people. In the mean time, I'm calling the ordering doctor to apologize that she isn't getting formal results on the computer, but I'll tell her what she needs to know on the phone.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
There is no passion like that of a functionary for his function. - Georges Clemenceau
It was also a total waste of time.
As a radiologist in the 21st century, most of what I do is on computers. You would not believe how complex this system is. We have 3 major components that must talk with each other and they aren't even written in the same language. Our major order entry site is DOS-based, for crying out loud.
Most radiologists only want to diagnose diseases. Believe me, that's the best part of my job. I'm a little different in that I spend extra time figuring out how the backbone works. In my opinion, it's the only way to know how to fix a problem if something goes wrong. Most docs are happy to let professionals handle this part. The problem is that when I discover a new and compelling mystery, I attack it with the same vigor as a mass in the abdomen. I must find out where it came from and why.
Without going into too much detail, I'll tell you that several x-rays were being cancelled even though the x-rays were actually shot. This presents a problem because the system thinks it never happened and cancels my interpretation. The finished report never gets to the ordering doctor because it has no where to go. I found out that the orders were being cancelled by the pharmacy. Without going into too much detail, I reasoned that the pharmacist wasn't deliberately cancelling the exam, it was a glitch in the system and it was an easy fix.
The problem is that when I explained this to the folks that can fix it, they got very excited. "We can study this!" they cried. "By checking when the order was cancelled, we can figure out when it's happening and move to correct the source problem."
"No. No. No." I replied. "It's just a glitch. . ." But it was too late. A mission was given and they were on task.
I'm going back to diagnosing people. In the mean time, I'm calling the ordering doctor to apologize that she isn't getting formal results on the computer, but I'll tell her what she needs to know on the phone.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
There is no passion like that of a functionary for his function. - Georges Clemenceau
Thursday, January 08, 2009
I'm Not That Old
After telling an embarrassing story about myself to an old friend, he told me to never tell that story to anyone again. I have a problem keeping my mouth shut if I think it's a good story, even if it reflects poorly on me.
This is one of those stories that I should probably keep to myself.
I was on line to buy tickets to the movies. The family was waiting inside to stay out of the cold. Over my left shoulder I caught a glimpse of medium length red hair surrounding a cute face and shapely figure, at least from what I could tell on a quick over the shoulder glance.
We inched forward and I stole a few more glances. Cuteness confirmed. I guess I glanced one too many times, because she caught me. I gave a quick smile and quickly looked away. I thought she returned the smile, but I'll never know.
I finally made it to the window. As I'm paying for my tickets she comes up to the window next to me and says, "One senior please."
I'm going back to bed. I'm pulling the covers over my head, and I'm not getting up until it's 1987.
This is one of those stories that I should probably keep to myself.
I was on line to buy tickets to the movies. The family was waiting inside to stay out of the cold. Over my left shoulder I caught a glimpse of medium length red hair surrounding a cute face and shapely figure, at least from what I could tell on a quick over the shoulder glance.
We inched forward and I stole a few more glances. Cuteness confirmed. I guess I glanced one too many times, because she caught me. I gave a quick smile and quickly looked away. I thought she returned the smile, but I'll never know.
I finally made it to the window. As I'm paying for my tickets she comes up to the window next to me and says, "One senior please."
I'm going back to bed. I'm pulling the covers over my head, and I'm not getting up until it's 1987.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Running and Creativity
Well, I posted on Facebook that I was headed out for and run, and run I did. I was going to the gym 4 or 5 times a week as recently as November, but I took December off for some reason. It shows. There are 3 hills on my standard 3 mile route. Before I left for Iraq (when I weighed over 180 pounds), I used to walk up two or all three. When I got back, I sailed through the course at a full run without ever thinking about walking. I even remember thinking, "I can't believe I ever found this hard!"
Well, I'm back to walking a bit. It's a little demoralizing, but I figure it's okay to be a little demoralized as long as you are out running. If I look at it correctly, this can be a motivator to get back to where I was in April.
I think a lot when I'm running. I've gotten crazy good ideas. I've written whole songs. I came up with the perfect commercial for Nike. Dad and I used to discuss our "Million Dollar Ideas" every Sunday. Mine usually came to me while running. For over a year I spent every jog thinking about how to build a perpetual motion machine.
I think it's the fact that a little pain without distactions tends to clear my head. For me, if there is a little stress in my life, I'm always more creative.
When are you creative?
Well, I'm back to walking a bit. It's a little demoralizing, but I figure it's okay to be a little demoralized as long as you are out running. If I look at it correctly, this can be a motivator to get back to where I was in April.
I think a lot when I'm running. I've gotten crazy good ideas. I've written whole songs. I came up with the perfect commercial for Nike. Dad and I used to discuss our "Million Dollar Ideas" every Sunday. Mine usually came to me while running. For over a year I spent every jog thinking about how to build a perpetual motion machine.
I think it's the fact that a little pain without distactions tends to clear my head. For me, if there is a little stress in my life, I'm always more creative.
When are you creative?
Friday, January 02, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Resolutions
Resolutions - How mundane.
We interrupt our regularly scheduled broadcast to talk about a growing problem - my waistline. When I got back from Iraq in March, I was the most fit I've ever been in my entire life (and that includes both marathons I ran in 1989 and 2003). I even posted a picture of my new cut abs. Well, those abs are gone again. I'm not as heavy as I was before I left for the war, but I'm getting there.
This morning I got on the scale at 172.
When I got back from Iraq I was 154.
My plan is to get to 165 in 3 months. That's a little over 2 pounds a month. I've done it before. In fact, I've lost even more than that, so I feel this is attainable. To start things off, I went for a run this morning - in the freezing rain. It felt pretty good, to be honest. I got some great flashbacks from when I trained for the Paris marathon. Back then I was running every morning at 4 am. In the winter. In Germany.
This is gonna be cake. Well, maybe soy cake. Or tofu. You get the point.
Anyone wanna come along with me?
We interrupt our regularly scheduled broadcast to talk about a growing problem - my waistline. When I got back from Iraq in March, I was the most fit I've ever been in my entire life (and that includes both marathons I ran in 1989 and 2003). I even posted a picture of my new cut abs. Well, those abs are gone again. I'm not as heavy as I was before I left for the war, but I'm getting there.
This morning I got on the scale at 172.
When I got back from Iraq I was 154.
My plan is to get to 165 in 3 months. That's a little over 2 pounds a month. I've done it before. In fact, I've lost even more than that, so I feel this is attainable. To start things off, I went for a run this morning - in the freezing rain. It felt pretty good, to be honest. I got some great flashbacks from when I trained for the Paris marathon. Back then I was running every morning at 4 am. In the winter. In Germany.
This is gonna be cake. Well, maybe soy cake. Or tofu. You get the point.
Anyone wanna come along with me?
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