Halloween meme theme

I was tagged my Morgan (gee, thanks) who started his own meme. What is it that I'm always the first person picked when a meme gets started? (Was that whiney enough for you?) Anyway, this is a 13 question theme that goes like this...

1. What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?
Howard the Duck. Just kidding. Ever see this movie? Nope, not many people did -- I think in grade school, they showed a dracula movie around this time of year. I couldn't sleep for days. I think it scarred me for life - really. *smile*

2. What was your favorite Halloween Costume from childhood?
I was a superhero guy. My fave was Superman. Had the cape, had the big "S" on my chest, had the tights. I was 18 years old - just kidding. But, my mom has pictures somewhere of me. Don't worry she has them carefully hidden and will only reveal them at the worst possible time for me, like when I make my long awaited guest appearance on Gray's Anatomy (playing myself of course).

3. If you had an unlimited budget, what would your Fantasy Costume be for this Halloween?
Without a doubt, I would be giving some love to Pluto. I mean the planet, and not the dog. It'll be part of my "Save Pluto" campaign.

4. When was the last time you went Trick Or Treating?
Last year, did you know, I went to a neighborhood and they were giving out iPods? Yeah right. The last time I remember was probably junior high. I remember because my friend went as Michael Jackson. That explains a lot about where he's at now in life.

5. What's your favorite Halloween Candy?
Any time of year, my fave candy is M&Ms. This time of year, of course, the Halloween colors. And, for giving out candy, the M&M minis. Is that too much information?

6. Tell us about a scary nightmare you had.
I was out of town without internet access. Oh yeah, that really happened. Read here.

7. What is your Supernatural Fear?
That slimy ghost from the Ghostbusters movies is going to get me some day. Who you gonna call?

8. What is your Creepy-Crawlie Fear?
Everyone who comes to my office stating they have a spider bite is always fearful of the brown recluse spider. Why? Because the bite injects a venom that literally eats away at your skin and has the potential (although rare) of causing a fatality. Scared yet?

9. Tell us about a time when you saw a ghost, or heard something go Bump in the night.
The first house I lived in following residency was in the woods. Beautiful landscape, although it was hard to maintain. Anyway, one night, I think it was in October I heard something on the roof. I was definitely freaked out. The wind was swirling and you could hear the leaves outside the window. What happened? Just some squirrels on the roof. Funny now, but not that night.

10. Would you ever stay in a real Haunted House overnight?
No. Let me think about that - No. Wait a sec --> Still no!

11. Are you a traditionalist (just a face) Jack O'Lantern Carver, or do you get really creative with your pumpkins?
Just a face. I'm not much more creative than that.

12. How much do you decorate your home for Halloween?
Decorate? What's that? I'm lucky to "celebrate the season" by wearing a Halloween tie to work. I'm kind of a minimalist that way.

13. What do you want on your Tombstone?
That's easy: I'm Dr. A, and I'm a blogaholic...

Tag time: Let's see. How about Ladybug, Lea, M, TundraPA, and The Curmudgeon. Join in if you like!

Ten million dollars

Did that get your attention? No, this is not the cost of my prescription drugs last month. And, this is considerably less than the $200 million powerball winning jackpot won by an Iowa couple. But, this is not about the money, it's about medical history!

What am I talking about? The X Prize Foundation, the people that brought you SpaceShipOne, is at it again. This time, the challenge is pretty simple. If you can map 100 different human genomes in 10 days, then $10 million is all yours. Here's a quote from msnbc.com.

“It’s like geeks are taking over the world,” [Craig] Venter [founder of Celera Genomics] said in an interview. “Who thought a scientists could get $10 million for coming up with a breakthrough technology?”

So, who's with me on this? I've got a computer and an old microscope (although it may need a new lightbulb). Of course, I don't know 100 people. So, we'd have to recruit them. Maybe I can get the Nobel Prize guys to help me. This is ten million dollars and medical history! What you do think? Deal or no deal?

Canadian drugs

Almost every day, I have a patient ask me what I think about getting prescription drugs from Canada. I have to admit that I'm really torn on this. I understand that the cost of prescription drugs is a major problem -- especially for my older patients (I don't want to get into why drugs are so expensive. That's an entirely different post.)

Formerly, the federal government, through the Department of Homeland Security, halted shipments of imported (Canadian) prescription drugs. According to an article in today's Los Angeles Times, this practice will be abolished and instead random searches will occur.

Popular medications such as Lipitor and Fosamax can be 30% to 80% cheaper from Canada and other countries, surveys have shown. But the U.S. government was confiscating as much as 20% of the shipments this year.

But, sometimes the integrity of these imported drugs needs to be questioned. This topic was covered on a recent episode of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

“It sounds so good, cheap prescription drugs just a click away on the Internet,” said anchor Katie Couric as she introduced the September 20 “Eye on Medicine” report, but, “it could be really dangerous because you may not be getting what you think you are.”

Correspondent Jim Stewart told viewers of a federal bust of “11 people and an Atlanta-based company with a scheme to sell the fake drugs over the Internet.” Stewart noted that the phony drugs were manufactured in “a rented house in Belize” and the Web site peddling them told customers it was a Canadian pharmacy selling re-imported drugs.

I realize I may start a firestorm here with people pointing fingers at other people and groups. But, what's the answer here? I don't know. I do worry about the authenticity of imported drugs. I also worry that prescription drugs are expensive and my patients are doing what they can to stay as healthy as they can, even if they have to get their drugs from Canada.

Botulism

Now that you're able to have some spinach again, you thought that it was safe to head back to the store. Forget that, dude. Now, my carrot juice obsession is going to take a significant hit because the US Food and Drug Administraton (FDA) has warned consumers to avoid carrot juice products from a certain California company due to a fourth case of botulism linked to this company.

Most people have heard of the word botulism, but really cannot describe what it is or what the symptoms are. I had to review this myself, because the only place I've seen this disease is in a textbook. As a public service announcement to you, the Doctor Anonymous reader, here are the symptoms of botulism along with a great link to the CDC with more information. Look out for those carrot juice drinkers!

The classic symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. Infants with botulism appear lethargic, feed poorly, are constipated, and have a weak cry and poor muscle tone. These are all symptoms of the muscle paralysis caused by the bacterial toxin. If untreated, these symptoms may progress to cause paralysis of the arms, legs, trunk and respiratory muscles. In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.

Tagged

My good friend Sam at Blog, MD *cough* tagged me this afternoon. He started a blog meme of his own. How can you start a meme? I thought memes were one of those mysterious things that traveled around the world and around the blogosphere until you get the dreaded message that "you've been tagged." Oh well...

With Halloween coming at the end of the month, he calls his meme "dark and creepy." The idea is to pick five songs that you'd like played at your funeral. Quite odd, I thought, because I haven't really thought about that yet. But, hey, I'm game. Here are Blog, MD's top five.

The Top 5 Songs I Want Played (Over My Dead Body):
1. “When the Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin: Because “Stairway to Heaven” is so obvious.
2. “Dies irae” from Mozart’s Requiem: This piece speaks for itself. I’ve loved it for years.
3. “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane: I consider this to be one of the greatest pieces of music ever composed. Coltrane’s “humble offering to God” in the “Acknowledgement” converted this tired agnostic.
4. “Steppin’ Out” by Joe Jackson: A fitting way to say adeiu.
5. “Non, je ne regrette rien” by Edith Piaf: No regrets. None.

Here are my Top 5 Songs I Want Played, well, you know...
1. Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel: In my past life as a med student, I played piano accompanyment along with two violinists during a memorial service. Very moving experience, have to blog about that sometime. (Only serious choice in this group)
2. Roxanne by The Police: My one and only karyoke song. That would get people talking!
3. Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles
4. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day
5. 100 Years by Five For Fighting

In true meme fashion, here's who I'm tagging. Join in if you'd like:
1. The Thinker: Check out her blog. She's already in the Halloween spirit!
2. Morgan: Another blog with Halloween-y colors. HA!
3. Julie: It is meme Tuesday, isn't it?
4. Empress Bee: Wouldn't this be your first meme?
5. Little Student: This is not a boring meme.

Flu shot rant

It's the beginning of October in the northern United States. Usually this means that the leaves are changing colors symbolizing the fall season. The weather is starting to get cooler. Halloween is at the end of the month which means that the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are not far behind.

It also means that the annual flu shot fiasco is going to start soon. You've seen this before. Once flu shots are mentioned on the morning national newscasts, the office phones will ring constantly until December. These annual news stories usually have someone from the CDC asking how bad the flu season is predicted to be. Then, typically, questions about the rumored flu shot shortages that will take place.

Meanwhile, back to our office, our patients are demanding that their flu shots be given to them today. "Hey, all the local pharmacies have them. Why doesn't your office have them yet?" "Is your office going to forget to call me again this year?" "Is your office going to run out of flu shots again this year?" "Don't you care about all your patients and not those you classify as 'high risk?'"

Why does this have to happen every year? Why do people have to get so angry at our office and our staff? I have no control why the pharmacies get the flu vaccine before doctor's offices and nursing homes. No, it's not a conspiracy. I would sure like to find out why this happens.

Why does our office wait two and three weeks after the pharmacies have their flu shot clinics? Well, for business, it's good to be the first on the block to get your flu shots out there so that you can use up your supply and not have any extra inventory. From a medical standpoint, we wait just in case the flu season may last another two or three weeks longer than expected next spring. That way you're still covered.

Why do people insist that the flu shot causes the flu? It doesn't. The flu shot doesn't prevent the common cold, and that's what you probably have. Estimates are that between 10-20% of the US population are infected with the influenza virus each year -- About 100,000 need hospitalization and about 35,000 die each year from influenza. But, don't worry, that won't be you. And, no, I won't just give you a prescription for tamiflu, just in case - just get your flu shot.

I'm just getting ready for the annual anger and aggression that will take place over the next few weeks when I'm not able to give their flu shot -- on demand -- for one reason or another. Don't worry, I still think you're a good person, but one of my many patients caught up in the annual hype.

Oh by the way, in case I miss you this time, you can still get a flu shot in December and January. Flu season goes through spring. Better safe than sorry, right?

Perspective

As you know, I like golf. Ok, I admit it, I can't get enough of golf. No, I can't play golf, but I follow it through the year. And, yes, I watched Tiger Woods win his sixth tournament in the last three months yesterday - even though it was on tape delay from England, and even though I already knew the result hours before I watched it on television.

For those of you who don't follow professional golf that much, some would call winning six professional tournaments a decent career. Tiger won six tourament in the last three months and eight tournaments in all for 2006.

The sports press is using words like "domination" and phrases like "Tiger's best year as a professional golfer." But, during the winner's press conference yesterday, he called 2006 a "loss." These are not the words of a professional golfer always striving for perfection in his sport. These are words of a son mourning the loss of his father earlier this year.

"I mean, people asked me that there on the 18th [hole] here, how do you consider this year," [Tiger] said. "I consider it as a loss. In the grand scheme of things, golf, it doesn't even compare to losing a parent."

I admit that sometimes I put the sports superstars that I admire on a pedestal. So much so that I forget that they're people, too. Even though Tiger Woods is the best golfer of my generation, and arguably the best golfer ever, his statement yesterday made me admire him even more. After all the accolades, adulation, and admiration, thanks for reminding me about what's really important in life.

Blog hot or not

A little something different today for you. Someone sent me this link to bloghotornot. I thought it was kind of cute. I don't know what it is, but I feel this need to be liked by others - maybe a character flaw. Anyway, as you can see by my sidebar, I have this thing for numbers and rankings.

I'd appreciate it if you click on that little graphic in my sidebar and let me know what you think of my blog. And, of course, also feel free to leave a comment as well.

Numbers update: I'd like to thank everybody again for visiting my blog, I really appreciate it. My average daily visits have increased by 95.4% to about 380 visits a day, according to site meter and the truth laid bear. So, thanks again! I'm starting my 15th week of blogging. And, I'll work as hard as I can to maintain the quality of my blog, so you'll return again and again.

BA in space

No, this is not an actual blogaholics anonymous meeting. It's just me being jealous. How cool would it be to blog from space? The topics would be endless. Well, this actually happened to Anousheh Ansari who is an American business woman.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, she paid a cool $20 million to be a space tourist on a Soyuz vehicle. She touched down yesterday in Kazakhstan with her Russian cosmonaut counterpart.

[And] she wrote about the smell of space - at least the space inside the orbiting lab: "It was strange … kind of like burned almond cookie."

I read some of her blog, and it's interesting stuff. How soon will you and me get to check out space like that? Maybe sooner that you think, if Richard Branson has anything to say about it (according to this article from space.com). At the slightly cheaper price of $200,000, you too can spend time in space - about 2.5 hours which would include a more than a few minutes of weightlessness.

“If it was ready next week, I’d be there,” Alan Watts, who has traded in two million Virgin Atlantic frequent flyer miles for a ride on SpaceShipTwo, told SPACE.com. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Trading two million frequent flyer miles for a chance to travel in space? Hmmm. Is this guy nuts? Does he know how many useless magazine subscriptions he could get for two million miles? Some people just don't think sometimes -- HA!

Germ zone

I finally figured out where I got this cold I've been dealing with for the past week. It started last weekend when I was in DC. According to this article from this morning's Boston Globe, my hotel room could have made me sick.

When sick hotel guests leave their rooms, they frequently leave something important behind: the virus that gave them their colds.

During an overnight hotel stay, people with colds left viruses on telephones, light switches, and television remotes, researchers said yesterday at an infectious disease conference in San Francisco.

We've all heard about not coughing on people and not sharing cups with people who have colds. Now, apparently, you're going to have to ask if the people who had the hotel room before was sick. Wouldn't that be interesting? When it comes down to it, I agree with Dr. Owen Hendley, University of Virginia Health System, who led the research.

"It's an interesting study," he said. "But they haven't shown infectivity. I'm not going to go around opening doors with my elbows."