Healthcare v. the Economy

Hillabama are focusing a lot of their campaigning on pimping and arguing over their hard to distinguish healthcare plans.  I support universal healthcare (though neither are truly proposing that) and certainly oppose the “R”’s plan of offering tax relief for the poor to allow them to buy private insurance. (Anyone who’s been relatively poor will tell you that money will not be enough and, if noticable, will be used for more immediate needs like food and rent.)  If Hillabama or McCain want to truly improve the health of the U.S. population they should focus on improving the overall economy and reducing proverty.  Research has shown that even moderate increases in income have substantial improvements for people’s health.  Moreover, this impact is elastic such that the % increase in salary has a greater % improvement in health the poorer you are.  The end result might (hopefully would) be decreased inequality in health and wealth. 

Advice to college students

Don’t argue over 1 point on your quiz when it’s only worth 20% of your final grade, especially when you are wrong.  That 1 point is worth 0.2 points on your final grade.  It annoys your instructor.

Oh.  And I never know if it’s advice or advise

Youth ‘Choking Game’ Can Be Deadly

Ya think?

 http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/02/14/youth-choking-game-fad-can-be-deadly/

MD/DO or PhD

When I was deciding on whether to go the PhD or MD route it basically came down to financial security.  Most will be surprised to learn I went (am still going for I guess) the PhD.  The decision was quite easy.  Med school = $250K - $350K in student loans, with a “high” starting salary to follow.  PhD = free tuition and a stipend and, at least today, about $75K - $85K a year to start in the part of the country I live.  Should I become disabled or otherwise not able to work I’d be stuck with the med school loans whereas none for the PhD.  On top of that I’ve met several physicians who advised against their profession.  I’ve never met a PhD who said the same.  (Though, some have said for what they ended up doing - usually management or administration - a master’s would have been sufficient.)  A no brainer for me.

VDay

Yesterday was a good one.  That is, after about 9:30 pm, which is when I got home from class and got to spend some time with the fiance.

Congress (again)

Second idiotic congressperson statement: Roger, I’m sure you’re going to heaven. 

 I didn’t know God ran for congress…and won.

Congress

I am listening to the Clemens v. McNamee clusterfuck on ESPNRadio.  One of the congresspersons asked Clemens which jersey he would wear to the hall of fame.  How is that relevant?  He asked it in jest and managed to ruin his impartialeness in the process.  Great job.  These people are our congresspersons.

Mother’s day (a sad one)

Yesterday was mother’s day in the country in which I grew up.  It was the first mother’s day since my mom died, so it’s a sad day.  I really hate Crohn’s disease.  She didn’t die from it (kidney failure), but it robbed her of her life.  If I could have three wishes granted I would (1) (selfishly) cure IBD, (2) end world hunger, and (3) reduce the inequalities in the world.