Tough Mr. Doctor Man

So they had to draw blood yesterday because they just can't pinpoint yet what I've got. Well, I have never had my blood drawn before. I am not afraid of needles (unlike Mr Leavitt...he he he). I watched her during the first draw. She had a small needle with a thin tube feeding a bottle of culture. The next needle was a doozie. It was a bigger needle and she needed to take four vials. First, she couldn't find the vein again. So she was digging around in my arm to find it. That stung a bit. After she found it she just kept taking....and taking....and taking. In three days, the only food I had eaten was a sandwich and some crackers. I had nothing in my system. On the third vial...I started to get REALLY woozie. I tried to relax and breathe deep. But I was starting to lose touch with reality. She eventually had me put my head between my knees. That's when the fun started. Now, I haven't vomited in years...literally. I think the last time I puked was when I was 14. Lets just say I left her a nice mess to clean up on the floor before she could grab a trash can. Oh yeah, and I threw up on my own shoe too! The nurse wouldn't even let me walk out on my own to the car by myself I looked so pale afterwards. "Mrs. Conformity" was at work so Mommy came with me to take care of Baby Australia (get it?!?) So I was helped out by a puny nurse half my size and was driven home by my Mommy. Am I ready for a career in medicine or what?!?

(I know you guys just LOVE all the grusesome details of my tribulations!!)

Our troops.

I just wanted to say one thing concerning our troops. This will not take long. I just want everyone to know that I support our troops. I hope that you all do the same. A lot of them don't like being over there just as much as we don't like to see them go. Like any job though you follow what your boss tells you to do. These brave men and women are over there doing their jobs, and some of them never come back. It's not a job that affords you a mistake. I just hope that everyone will support our troops, and I don't mean putting some piece of shit yellow ribbon on your car. Just let them know that they are appreciated if you happen to meet one. Love the soldiers, not the War!

WITHOUT STRUGGLE THERE IS NO PROGRESS!

LIES

On May 1, 2005, the Sunday Times of London published confidential minutes of a meeting between Prime Minister Tony Blair and his cabinet. The minutes disclose that President Bush and Blair had secretly planned to invade Iraq—before discussions about inspections for weapons of mass destruction had even begun; in fact, before the United Nations had been asked to revisit the idea of inspections. This casts a shadow on all of Bush’s statements about his reasons for going into Iraq, especially those claims about weapons of mass destruction.

When two trailers were captured in Iraq in May of 2003, Bush proudly declared that “We have found the weapons of mass destruction.” But three weeks prior to the acquisition, the Pentagon had already concluded that the trailers had nothing to do with biological weapons. The report was sent to the president two days before his statement, rendering him well aware of the reality of the situation. Yet he chose to make his statement in spite of the truth that was laid before him.

Bush also claimed that the International Atomic Energy Agency had reported in 1998 that Iraq was six months away from producing weapons. But no such report existed. What the IAEA did claim, however, was that there was no sign that Iraq even had the capability to produce weapons. Bush’s statement was an outright lie, a complete fabrication, not a slight bending of the truth or an omission of vital information.

This is only one set of his lies centered around an illegal war—a war that he began without Congressional approval, which is required by law before engaging in war. Why do we continue to believe anything he says? Why do we think that he’s not lying about any other thing he discloses to the public?

When President Clinton made his famous lie (“I did not have sexual relations”), he was impeached. Why don’t we render the same service to our current president for perhaps the most deadly lies in recent history?

The Worst Doctor On the Earth Today

This is a copy of an email I sent today after visiting a local physician...I have omitted the name of the clinic...

Thank you for reading my comment. If you wouldn't mind, I would like a confirmation email that lets me know this was heard.

I have been sick since last Friday with extreme body aches, profuse sweating, high fever, and intense chills. I am not even feeling well sitting here at the computer...sweating...and sweating. I just have to let you know what happened today. I decided to seek medical help since I have not felt this sick in the last six years (at least) of my life. Our preferred physicians were not available today. My wife just made an appointment with Dr Slack. We were so anxious to get some answers about this crazy condition.

This was EASILY the WORST visit I have EVER even HEARD OF with a doctor.

Let me show you how some of the visit went...no exaggerations...

1) After Slack entered the room and asked me some unusually abrupt questions about symptoms she asked me to sit on the bed. I was in one of my intense sweat attacks at that point. My forehead was soaked and so was my shirt. The FIRST thing she said to me was "Oh my gosh you really are sweating...well...I'm not even going to touch you." When I have my own patients (I am going to attend the University of Utah Medical School this fall) I would hope I would offer a paper towel...or even help the patient swab the sweat from their brow. As a doctor, I am sure Slack has come into contact with more disgusting things than the sweat of a 24-year-old with good personal hygiene. She could even have put on latex gloves. And you know...I didn't feel good at all...I really needed some encouragement and some compassionate bedside manner!!

2) I mentioned that I had been accepted to medical school. She said, "Well you're life is about to end isn't it?" I though there would be some inherent encouragement and optimism among doctors.

3) My nose started to bleed while I was in the examination room. The elevated core body heat has really increased my nosebleeds. I was really embarrassed. It was a bad one. I had really large amounts of blood coming out and I couldn't stop it at all. She saw that and just said, "Wow you really are bleeding aren't you?" Doctors have access to things like ice and other things that might have helped me. She could have helped. She just watched me as I went through about 15 tissues and eventually I ended up just ramming one right into my nostril. She left after ordering a strep culture and left the examination room door open so I could bleed for all the passers-by. I closed it myself.

4) She said that she could order bloodwork to see if it really was mononucleosis. I asked her what she thought I should do. She said she had seen two or three other patients with similar symptoms. She said that if their bloodwork came back positive for mono than she could let me know. So this lady does proxy medical care? I don't want my healthcare to me hinged on someone else's symptoms!!! She asked me if I wanted to do the test because, she said, "I don't really care if we do it." You know, I said that I didn't want to do it. I didn't want this lady to touch me...attend to me...NOTHING! I left with a bloody nose, a discouraged attitude, and a speeding ticket.

Yes, we were so over-anxious to get to the bottom of this illness (and the fact that I was feeling really gross) that we were caught speeding on 90th south and 13th west by West Jordan PD on the way to the clinic. I mean, that's totally our fault...but you can see how discouraged we were after the visit was an utter failure. All we had to show for our trip to ________was a bloody nose and a speeding ticket.

Thank you for reading this. I am just really unhappy with what happened today. It did me no good to go to ____________ today...that is not normally the case.

Music I am Quite Embarrased to Like

I don't offer explanations. But if you feel open-minded and experimental...

Aqua - Around the World
Eiffel 65 - The Edge
BBMak - Back Here
Daniel Bedingfield - If You're Not the One
k.d. lang - Constant Craving
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Celine Dion - I Drove All Night
Alice Deejay - The Lonely One
The Carpenters - I Need to Be In Love
Haddaway - What Is Love
ABBA - Knowing Me, Knowing You
Amber - Sexual

A few of many...

Life in Mono

Just got back from the doctor. How about some MONONUCLEOSIS! Its viral...so no therapy will directly treat the illness. Oh by the way....it can last for months! Yipee!!

Viva Las Vegas

Hey lets all go to Vegas this summer.

Moab Anyone?

We are going to Moab the first week in May. I know some of you have mentioned you may want to go, we are going to book our hotel so we just wanted to double check what is up. You should come... dont be boring, trips with friends are the best. (this means you Kay Chizzle) it will be super cheap too.

LARP

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4254869577145802341&q=larp

This is funny.

My Two Cents on Humor and Respect

So I've gotten thinking about this disconnect that there seems to be between respect, and irreverential humor. Why do some people get offended, while others laugh? I don't remember many times in my life where I've felt offended by a joke told in various media, or to me personally. I never seem to even equate a joke to disrespect when some jokes might be deemed demeaning or disrespectful. I think it boils down to understanding, confidence, and taste.
I don't know exactly why I don't get offended, but atleast subconciously this is what I think happens. When I am told a joke, or I am going to see a comedy at the movies or on TV, my mind switches gears to a totally different speed. I judge what I am seeing and hearing by a different set of criteria. After all, I'm not critiquing foreign policy, I just want to laugh, or not. I throw out all my JUDGEMENTS of the world, society, norms, and attitudes, and in place of those things are QUALITIES I find in comedy: delivery, timing, satire, irreverence, content, and commentary on society to name a few. If what I am experiencing has enough of these qualities in whatever combination, I laugh. I have no idea what will make me laugh or not til I see it (although I know anything with Tim Allen in it will not). I may soon after think about what I experienced and think "wow, that wasn't too 'tasteful'," But that isn't the point of comedy. Comedy isn't about bad or good taste, that is a societal concern. Comedy is for making someone laugh. Have you ever seen anyone say something totally serious while laughing? "We think... hahaha... that North... ha... Korea... chuckle... may have a nuclear bomb! HAHAHA." It doesn't work. Truth or seriousness, and comedy can not coexist.
While some may say that behind every joke is a little truth, I say "Who cares?" A joke about Mormons being tightwads does have some truth to it. I am a Mormon. Yes, I am a tightwad sometimes. Tightwad = bad, but I don't care because I can make fun of myself. I am short, and people make short jokes all the time. I don't laugh because they are rarely funny to me, but I wouldn't ever be offended by them. There's a certain level of confidence there. I am NOT the most confident guy, so don't get me wrong.
If you can't take a joke at face value, as pure and simple nonsense, then you don't get the point of comedy and should cease critiquing ALL comedy. If you don't understand nuclear physics, then don't try to explain to me how an atom is split.
***This is in no way a direct assault on anything anyone has said on this blog. The creator of this blog assumes full responsibility for all content of this blog. Do not eat this blog. Do not stand next to this blog.***

Amber, oh Amber. Where art thou?

What happened to Amber? Did she get her fingers blown off in the War? Or is she just in a state of total disinterest with what we have to say? Which could be true this blog is so uninteresting. I keed I keed, it's great for us to poop on.

And what's the deal with Immigrants....

Ok so I just wanted to change the subject. Getting a little too heated and finger pointing for me. Good debate though, but here's another. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WAVING THE MEXICAN FLAG!?! Hello for one do not care that any of them are here in the United States. They provide a good honest work ethic, for the most part. To make an honest days pay. Our economy would collapse plain and simple without them. In Park City, Utah, for example, the number of employed immigrants is about 60%. If you took away that 60% the city would crumble. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is this. Why do you come here and then insist on flying the Mexican flag? This is not Mexico, and most of them left Mexico because the economy and opportunities suck. Then why fly the flag of the country you left? You can come here, but guess what. We are in America, fly Old Glory if you want your citizenship. I will garantee that there will be no questions on the citizenship test about Mexico.

The other thing that gets me is, they come here and expect us to cater to them. That all signs should be in Spanish and English. We are a melting pot, but when my ancestors from Greece, Italy, and Ireland came here they sure as hell weren't catered too. There were no signs for them, and most of them worked hard in the day, and at night learned English. They never had any of their old world holidays celebrated. They never made it a holiday here to celebrate Scotlands Independence. Why do we have a holiday here for Cinco De Mayo? What do I care that Mexico won their independence from Spain. I don't make Mexico celebrate the 4th of July.

That is just what gets me. If you want to come here, then do it legally. I do think that they need some reform on the policy to make it easier for them, but don't expect it. I don't think either that granting them amnesty or make them automatic citizens is a fair thing to do. What about the hard working people who had to go through that process, and most of them feel that way. I heard a lot of people weigh in on the subject last night on a local radio program. Just make it easier for them to come forth and do it the right way, but also make them work for it. Just like our ancestors did.

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1919

WITHOUT STRUGGLE THERE IS NO PROGRESS!

The ever-widening hole...

I feel like crap (I've been really sick) so this may be short. The risk of Hollywood or other dramatized relationship situation is it creates an expectation that will never be met (bravo Maxy). Your spouse is never good enough. If we subscibe to this we will find ourselves sliding down a hole of disappointment throughout our lives. NEVER able to enjoy a singular moment.

I disagree with Max on one point. The men portrayed in the media are a little different than the women. The objectification is similar but the pornography industry speaks to a new level of seriousness. Women often are not stimulated (and often don't abondon reason and common sense like some men) when exposed to a sexual image. They often find it repulsive. A poll of prison inmates (I read in a Gender class I took---sorry for no reference) indicates that many start with porn. Control, objectification, the commoditization of women attracts them. Disrespect to women--porn--abusive relationship--rape--other crime...or more rape. It is a path too many take. Men are the masters of their domain (so society says) so it is logical for them to see women as property. I just also want to point at the number of women IN the porn industry relative to men. ALSO, how many men are porn addicts cpmpared with men? These numbers must be staggering!!! TOTAL imbalance...

Men MUST control themselves and find ways to ground their sexual desires. The woman is not in charge of tempering us. WE ARE!

Struggle? You bet. Progress? Inevitable.

Minimum Wage?

Why do we even have minimum wage? Did you know they havent changed it since 1997? I heard that today and couldnt believe it.

Top 10 Dislikes

1) Co-workers who "soar" above you with their higher educational degrees.
2) Degrading movies such as Starsky and Hutch, Wedding Crahsers, King Pin, etc...
3) Woman who humor their male counterpart by "enjoying" these movies .... Do you really think it's funny? (As a side note... the womans role in the movie is almost always to please the man)
4) People who think you should be more open minded, but can never seem to extend the same courtesy to you.
5) People who "police" the fast lane going 55 MPH.
6) House hunting!!!
7) You, your husband, and your baby sick all at once.
8) Hormones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9) Writing reports to the Feds when they don't read them anyway.
10) Having zero money to spend.

Pornography of the mind

This whole discussion on what beauty is, has made me think. That yes we as men decide what we like and what we think is beautiful. The thing is that you women decide how we are supposed to act and how we are supposed to treat you, in the exact same manner. That is why I have always thought that the female movie genre is a sort of pornography of the mind. It creates an alternate reality of what a relationship is supposed to be. The same as what pornography creates in the male psyche.

I just think that if you truly want to liberate yourselves as women you need to do the same as men and take some responsibility. That is the whole idea of being an independent woman, responsibility. If you don't want men to decide what is hot, don't ask! I can not remember a time when I have been at the mall with a significant other and had the question asked, "What do you think about these pants/top/dress/whatever?" If you don't want us to think that it is hot don't ask! Wear whatever you want and if you all do the same we will think you are hot no matter what it is. If the standard were collared dresses and floor length, we would think that was hot. That is the way it has been for centuries. Get the standard to change, and the minds of all men will follow.

Now back to the movie topic. I pose a question of rhetoric to all the females that may read this. How many of you have been watching a movie, like Sleepless in Seattle or City of Angels, etc. And thought, "I wish my husband/boyfriend could be more like the guy in that movie." I'm sorry to burst any bubbles here but most guys will never think that way, unless they are gay, and that is just because most gay guys are gay because they think like women. Never in my lifetime will I have an opportunity to come crawling after you in the rain and have a long embrace and an even sweeter, more passionate kiss. There will never be any white stallion with my golden locks flowing in the wind, ready to whisk you away into the sunset. Even a nice romantic walk is hard for us to come by, after a long day at work. But don't get me wrong, we try. We try to live up to expectations, just as you women try to live up to ours. It's the fact that we sit and point fingers at what is wrong with the other. We need to stop that, step back, and take a longer look at ourselves. We are all guilty. Let's not think of the potential in the sack that women have, or the potential that men could one day be on the cover of a harlequin romance novel. Take each other for the talented and beautiful people that we are, not looking for more. I liked what Windy said at the end of his post, Stop looking at their breasts. Well a word to the women, stop expecting men to reach the point of being Matthew Mcconaughey. Take us for the great and wonderful things that we do for you, and the talents that we posses as well.

Without Struggle There is No Progress!

A Womans Side Of Beauty

Who decides what beauty is? You do, as men. I can honestly tell you that, from my point of view, its not the fashion magazines or the celebrities and thier thin appearances that affect me and how I feel about myself, its you men. You tell us women what is beautiful and attractive by how you act, what you look at, what you notice and the comments you make in the other room. What tells me what is attractive is observing how the men in my life act. As women how are we supposed to keep it out of our lives and demand respect if when we voice our disgraces and opinons we are deamed INSECURE?
Scott says I dont know how women do it? I dont either. Its a struggle everyday. It is so hard. Is there a way to balance being a women in the church with what our men are seeing on television and on the internet?
I also agree with what Sam says about the world trying to get to mens core and you do you have to resist it. I think as men you have to decide what women are to you and what you want them to be. You have to decide if you are either going to be a man of God or a man of the world because there is no grey area. Did you marry your wives cause they are great sex kittens are cause they are beautiful to the core and going to be great mothers to your babies. Because if you chose the latter and you are constantly looking at other women and images on the television, movies and internet, then you are telling your wives that is what you want and that is what you are interested in.
And to the women.... I think that the strong women were saved for this day and age. I know that not just any woman of the church could survive this hard time. We are strong and we are good examples and we have to stay strong and remember that breast implant and sexy underwear and short cute mini skirts and tank tops, although appealing, is not what makes beautiful happy women who are good mothers. It breaks my heart to think of the world that Piper is coming into. I think of how much I struggle with the way the world and men make me feel and know that she is going to have it so much harder and is going to suffer so much self doubt. And I think you men have a lot riding on your shoulders. You have to teach your children how men should act. You have to show your girls how looks arent important and teach them the kind of men they should look for, and your sons you have to show them by example how to treat women by the way you treat their mothers.
I am sorry if it seems that I am tearing into men, because I am not meaning to, I am just giving you something to think about. You have no idea how much your actions are noticed and what an example you can set if you just make the decision to not be a man of the world and not be like the majority. Do you think Christ noticed a nice rack?

Format Concert = Religious Experience

wow! The Format concert was so freakin awesome. I think I'm converting to the Formatist dogma. I will live my life according to the dictates of the great Formaticians of years past. Let me say again, wow!
We got to sit right in front of the railing on the top balcony, almost dead center (for those of you familiar with Bricks/In the Venue/Club Sound), and we could look down on all the Hike Schoolers smashing themselves together to see. Man it was good to just sit, talk, and enjoy well written music performed well by people doing their own thing.
A little about the opening bands... Tickertape Parade, Anathallo, and June all played before the Format. Tickertape Parade-two guitars, a bass, and a drum. Sang about the same stuff as every other band ever at Bricks in the last 7 years, and played the same riffs. June was a little disappointing. I had heard good stuff from them, but they sounded rather... generic. Guitar hook---fast rhthym---sing about being oppressed---head thrash. Anathallo was GREAT! If you haven't heard them (I hadn't) and you want different, wow, talk about different. They had 7 members that all played 4-5 instruments and alternated between their insturments. Drums, huge bass drum, kitchen pot, xylophone, moog, keyboard, trumpet, trombone, tamborine, bass, and guitar. Their music was VERY experimental, but to watch these musicians all rock together, and switch intstruments mid-song was inspiring. The whole place was rocking, and people were impressed.
Now to the FORMAT!!! Talk about inspiring. These guys are freakin original. They walked onto a stage that they decorated with their own shag rugs, and a huge banner they designed themselves (they actually do all their own artwork, and design) while in the background was playing this funky song straight out of the seventies. They were already grooving. It was goosebump producing. They played, we watched from about thirty feet away, and it was good. They had guitars, and keyboards, and drums all going. Man, it was good.
The Format have been dropped from their label. That is GREAT NEWS! They are putting the next album out all by themselves. Can I just say how GREAT it feels to see a band doing it all themselves? AND having good taste in what they do? They write, play, sing, draw, design, and it's all good. They wrote a song about their experience with their record label called "The Compromise." This song is so well written, that if you didn't know it was about a record label, you would think it was about a relationship. I LOVE it when song writers dont spell it all out for you, or cram a metaphor down your throat. The acoustic version of the song can be found here. You can login with my email samnuckolls@yahoo.com and the password is valencia. Download it. The song makes you realize just how horrible the dependance on labels is for musicians. Anyway...
Sorry bout the long post. They were good, and I can't wait for July 4th, when the new album "Dog Problems" hits.