March 30, 2008
Advertising vs. Reality
Comparing reality to advertising images.
March 28, 2008
March 22, 2008
March 19, 2008
March 16, 2008
Endeavours Exhaust Trail
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0803/endeavorlaunch_brown_big.jpg
March 15, 2008
medical training
http://www.slate.com/id/2186446/
Evidence-based medicine has been the recent buzzword in medical education. Medical schools such as mine devise important sounding courses in statistics and scientific analysis, in an effort to train physicians who rely on EBM. But the disconnect between these courses and the day to day life of a house officer is huge. Sure we learn how to evaluate clinical trials, but how often do we actually put these skills to use on the floors? Close to never. Most residents are so overwhelmed with paperwork, social work, etc., that little thought goes into the actual treatment. If a patient were to ask, "what is the evidence that antibiotic regimen X is better than regimens Y or Z for my pneumonia?", how many people could give a thorough response, detailing response rates, time to response, and rate/severity of adverse events?
The two fields that focus on EBM are oncology and cardiology. Most oncologic regimens are tested in phase III trials, providing this information. For example, NSABP-B39 demonstrated that breast conservation therapy is equivalent to mastectomy in certain breast cancer patients, but not all. It makes sense that most cancer patients want to know their chances for cure, control, complications, etc. But doesn't this apply for most medical situations? I think it is unrealistic to expect an internist or family doc to know the literature for the myriad of conditions they see. But then the question becomes, do we accept this, or do we make medical care more and more specialized? Neither results in ideal care. A multitude of specialists will fail to integrate the patient's entire medical picture; each focusing only on what s/he is trained to do.
While GPs are unable to assess if the patient is truly getting the best care possible. The only solution in my mind is to stay healthy. :)
March 14, 2008
March 13, 2008
March 10, 2008
March 9, 2008
March 8, 2008
March 7, 2008
Why the Place You Choose to Live is the Most Important Decision of Your Life
ChangeThis :: A Creative Manifesto: Why the Place You Choose to Live is the Most Important Decision of Your Life
A great analysis about how the new economy will affect what kinds of places and cities will succeed. That is, why is San Francisco better for creatives than Pittsburgh.
March 6, 2008
March 5, 2008
The trouble with Steve - Mar. 4, 2008
The trouble with Steve - Mar. 4, 2008
A critical Steve Jobs profile.
March 4, 2008
Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Letters
Shareholder Letters
Enjoy the Comedy Stylings of Warren Buffett. Among the best shareholders written.
Clogged Arteries
Clogged Arteries
Read the article and then look at the image. Note the amount of lost money on the coasts.
