Tinypliny's Journal
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02/19/2009 01:17 #47804
Youtube = Awesome!Category: the odes
02/15/2009 13:32 #47756
The house that died.Category: tragedy
6038 Long St, Clarence, NY last year**.
6038 Long St, Clarence, NY last week*.
Sources:
6038 Long St, Clarence, NY last week*.
Sources:
- Bird's Eye view, live.maps.com
- Buffalo News, Sunday, Feb 15 edition
02/13/2009 04:36 #47740
Don't lose your comments. Ever.Category: e:strip
Anyone who has felt the pain of accidentally losing a post or a comment on (e:strip) should head on over to this 
and install the incredibly useful form-recovery add-on called Lazarus.
It saves everything you type in forms - as you type. The next time your browser crashes or you accidentally click the wrong button and reload the page, or your comment heads to the graveyard, you just need to right-click and make all those painfully typed up words rematerialize.
The best thing is, it works for everything - emails, forms, notes etc. More information about Lazarus form recovery tool here on this
and install the incredibly useful form-recovery add-on called Lazarus. It saves everything you type in forms - as you type. The next time your browser crashes or you accidentally click the wrong button and reload the page, or your comment heads to the graveyard, you just need to right-click and make all those painfully typed up words rematerialize.
The best thing is, it works for everything - emails, forms, notes etc. More information about Lazarus form recovery tool here on this
02/10/2009 19:55 #47705
How many of you believe that...Category: opinion
cancer has not been "cured" because researchers and clinicians are just making too much money out of it to destroy what is virtually a cash-cow?
Today morning, at a discussion seminar, I had this very disturbing thought that definitely made me question whether I was right in choosing to do what I do. I know we really are not close to a "cure" for cancer. But WHY are we so hesitant to restructure our healthcare system and do even little things that will certainly make a difference in cancer incidence and outcomes?
Every cancer centre in this country depends on its patients to run. That is a fact. But in running health care as a business are we getting away from the basic motivation behind healthcare - to eliminate disease? There is so much drive to carry out all kinds of complicated research, but what are we doing about what research has already shown us? Is it so tough to step away from what has become a blind chase for more and more patients or publications and see whether we have achieved anything tangible in the last so many decades?? Is translational research just another over-hyped myth? No one wants to talk about what we can possibly do to IMPLEMENT our findings and translate them into healthcare policy. Instead, everyone wants to talk about precision of measurement in research and methods to recruit even more patients to clinics and research studies.
Recruitment to studies has steadily become more and more difficult. Has any of us wondered why? Is it just because people have caller-IDs on their phones and won't answer random surveys? Perhaps. But I am not sure that this is the sole reason. It could be because we have become so research-oriented that we don't care what the deliverable outcomes of our research are, any more. We are just interested in a job called "research". What does this "research" mean? Many of us would struggle to answer that question - regardless of how many "public health significance" abstracts we might write.
I am feeling so bitter and cynical today. I am sorry. :( I might probably not agree with all I said here in my happier research moments. Research is exciting to me - not just because I think its cool but because I feel like I am working towards something that will help my former patients and more importantly, future research beneficiaries. Its a personal cause to me. Thus, it feels awful that I really might not achieve the end-result I dream about all the time because there will be no one in the end, who really cares about what my research might mean to healthcare policy but only look at how much grant money I might bring in with my research or how many publications I can stack up. :/
Today morning, at a discussion seminar, I had this very disturbing thought that definitely made me question whether I was right in choosing to do what I do. I know we really are not close to a "cure" for cancer. But WHY are we so hesitant to restructure our healthcare system and do even little things that will certainly make a difference in cancer incidence and outcomes?
Every cancer centre in this country depends on its patients to run. That is a fact. But in running health care as a business are we getting away from the basic motivation behind healthcare - to eliminate disease? There is so much drive to carry out all kinds of complicated research, but what are we doing about what research has already shown us? Is it so tough to step away from what has become a blind chase for more and more patients or publications and see whether we have achieved anything tangible in the last so many decades?? Is translational research just another over-hyped myth? No one wants to talk about what we can possibly do to IMPLEMENT our findings and translate them into healthcare policy. Instead, everyone wants to talk about precision of measurement in research and methods to recruit even more patients to clinics and research studies.
Recruitment to studies has steadily become more and more difficult. Has any of us wondered why? Is it just because people have caller-IDs on their phones and won't answer random surveys? Perhaps. But I am not sure that this is the sole reason. It could be because we have become so research-oriented that we don't care what the deliverable outcomes of our research are, any more. We are just interested in a job called "research". What does this "research" mean? Many of us would struggle to answer that question - regardless of how many "public health significance" abstracts we might write.
I am feeling so bitter and cynical today. I am sorry. :( I might probably not agree with all I said here in my happier research moments. Research is exciting to me - not just because I think its cool but because I feel like I am working towards something that will help my former patients and more importantly, future research beneficiaries. Its a personal cause to me. Thus, it feels awful that I really might not achieve the end-result I dream about all the time because there will be no one in the end, who really cares about what my research might mean to healthcare policy but only look at how much grant money I might bring in with my research or how many publications I can stack up. :/
tinypliny - 02/13/09 04:44
(e:dcoffee): That's a great idea. In a way, it does work. For eg. government hospitals in India make no money and the salaries of the staff are paid by the government, the healthcare is always free. There is also a dangerous downside to such a scenario - stagnation and lack of motivation to improve healthcare practices.
I don't know what is worse - greedily squeezing your patients for all they are worth, or let apathy shroud your practice and be uninterested in any research for progress. It's a delicate balance that is often tilted in favour of the worse outcomes. One has to wonder about the people actually serving in healthcare in this day and age - are they really committed to the essence of healthcare at all?
(e:dcoffee): That's a great idea. In a way, it does work. For eg. government hospitals in India make no money and the salaries of the staff are paid by the government, the healthcare is always free. There is also a dangerous downside to such a scenario - stagnation and lack of motivation to improve healthcare practices.
I don't know what is worse - greedily squeezing your patients for all they are worth, or let apathy shroud your practice and be uninterested in any research for progress. It's a delicate balance that is often tilted in favour of the worse outcomes. One has to wonder about the people actually serving in healthcare in this day and age - are they really committed to the essence of healthcare at all?
libertad - 02/11/09 13:44
I'm glad there are at least some people still left in your field that care. That makes it even more important that you stick with it!
I'm glad there are at least some people still left in your field that care. That makes it even more important that you stick with it!
dcoffee - 02/11/09 12:52
I have one bit of advice for you. Don't let your energy go to waste. We need people like you, and we need you to fulfill your potential.
you said "Research is exciting to me - not just because I think its cool but because I feel like I am working towards something that will help my former patients and more importantly, future research beneficiaries. Its a personal cause to me." that says to me, that you don't need a profit motivation, you're doing valuable work that gives your life meaning. Your curiosity and your desire to help drives you.
I don't think health institutions should be motivated by profit at all.
Here's a radically practical idea. Make health institutions non-profit. Insurance companies, hospitals, clinics, etc. Like Catholic Health systems, everyone gets paid a good wage, but you don't have shareholders whose only goal is more profit.
Profit motivation creates waste. It's more profitable for a research institution to do 3 separate studies on the same topic. Then conclude that more study is needed. But what if the goal is purely to help people instead of profit (off their misery).
It's not just a problem of hospitals though, I can think of other occupations that are worse. Move the conversation where you are.
I have one bit of advice for you. Don't let your energy go to waste. We need people like you, and we need you to fulfill your potential.
you said "Research is exciting to me - not just because I think its cool but because I feel like I am working towards something that will help my former patients and more importantly, future research beneficiaries. Its a personal cause to me." that says to me, that you don't need a profit motivation, you're doing valuable work that gives your life meaning. Your curiosity and your desire to help drives you.
I don't think health institutions should be motivated by profit at all.
Here's a radically practical idea. Make health institutions non-profit. Insurance companies, hospitals, clinics, etc. Like Catholic Health systems, everyone gets paid a good wage, but you don't have shareholders whose only goal is more profit.
Profit motivation creates waste. It's more profitable for a research institution to do 3 separate studies on the same topic. Then conclude that more study is needed. But what if the goal is purely to help people instead of profit (off their misery).
It's not just a problem of hospitals though, I can think of other occupations that are worse. Move the conversation where you are.
tinypliny - 02/10/09 22:02
We were talking about models of socio-economic status today. Sigh. Isn't it enough to know that lower SES is a major impediment to follow-up care and compliance to treatment??! And don't we know this already? Would people who are struggling to keep their jobs want to miss their workdays to take a kid to hospital for follow-up when their kid is apparently doing well after a childhood cancer related surgery?
Obviously, we feel the need to conduct research and blow money to verify with numerous models and redundant studies, if this is really true instead of changing policy to alleviate this problem. We have to wake up at some point and realize that health behaviour is not as flexible as health infrastructure. It IS VERY hard to change what people do and have been doing for centuries! Preaching and reproach will only get you so far.
Social engineering often gets a bad reputation but changing health infrastructure and health administration is a form of social engineering WE NEED if we want even a small chance of making a dent in cancer as a scourge. The other facet of social engineering - health behaviour change is limited by how much influence we have over the population as whole - which is not really that much!
I know I am part of this evil academia, and very deeply so. I have been in it ever since I can remember. I am just saying that it starting to look like having tangible goals is not enough anymore. Because apparently, that doesn't get you anywhere near the influence you will need to have, to push for real world changes. Unless you are willing to alienate a ton of researchers and speak out in favour of policy change, and risk getting viewed as a lunatic who is preaching advocacy because you are too married to your ideas (which may or may not be the case).
Heh. But really thinking through all this convinces me that its time to develop an even tougher skin (I think I have a warted skin already so this can't be that hard, can it?!) and think about even more devious strategies to get what I want. Thanks, (e:heidi). :)
I agree that, on paper, having clear goals seems like it will do the trick and I want to believe in it heart and soul. But on days like these, when I see priorities among my own peers and community completely at loggerheads with I want to believe, it gets somewhat tough to hold on and smile.
We were talking about models of socio-economic status today. Sigh. Isn't it enough to know that lower SES is a major impediment to follow-up care and compliance to treatment??! And don't we know this already? Would people who are struggling to keep their jobs want to miss their workdays to take a kid to hospital for follow-up when their kid is apparently doing well after a childhood cancer related surgery?
Obviously, we feel the need to conduct research and blow money to verify with numerous models and redundant studies, if this is really true instead of changing policy to alleviate this problem. We have to wake up at some point and realize that health behaviour is not as flexible as health infrastructure. It IS VERY hard to change what people do and have been doing for centuries! Preaching and reproach will only get you so far.
Social engineering often gets a bad reputation but changing health infrastructure and health administration is a form of social engineering WE NEED if we want even a small chance of making a dent in cancer as a scourge. The other facet of social engineering - health behaviour change is limited by how much influence we have over the population as whole - which is not really that much!
I know I am part of this evil academia, and very deeply so. I have been in it ever since I can remember. I am just saying that it starting to look like having tangible goals is not enough anymore. Because apparently, that doesn't get you anywhere near the influence you will need to have, to push for real world changes. Unless you are willing to alienate a ton of researchers and speak out in favour of policy change, and risk getting viewed as a lunatic who is preaching advocacy because you are too married to your ideas (which may or may not be the case).
Heh. But really thinking through all this convinces me that its time to develop an even tougher skin (I think I have a warted skin already so this can't be that hard, can it?!) and think about even more devious strategies to get what I want. Thanks, (e:heidi). :)
I agree that, on paper, having clear goals seems like it will do the trick and I want to believe in it heart and soul. But on days like these, when I see priorities among my own peers and community completely at loggerheads with I want to believe, it gets somewhat tough to hold on and smile.
heidi - 02/10/09 21:30
This is one of the reasons I got out of academia - there is so little focus on what to do with the research, how it fits into an agenda for social change. I remember sitting in a grad class in stratification and being extremely frustrated with the professor. He was very excited about his latest piece of research and the infinitesimal change in the methodology that made it different than the last piece of research. Yes, accurately describing wage differences by gender is important, but can be adequately accomplished at a couple levels of less detail. He never addressed what he was going to DO about the problem.
The way you described your goals to me, (e:tinypliny), it seems like you want to solve a very specific problem and see real world changes because it. I doubt you'll get hemmed in by that kind of narrow focus.
(And I agree, the sickness-centric model of US health care is very problematic.)
This is one of the reasons I got out of academia - there is so little focus on what to do with the research, how it fits into an agenda for social change. I remember sitting in a grad class in stratification and being extremely frustrated with the professor. He was very excited about his latest piece of research and the infinitesimal change in the methodology that made it different than the last piece of research. Yes, accurately describing wage differences by gender is important, but can be adequately accomplished at a couple levels of less detail. He never addressed what he was going to DO about the problem.
The way you described your goals to me, (e:tinypliny), it seems like you want to solve a very specific problem and see real world changes because it. I doubt you'll get hemmed in by that kind of narrow focus.
(And I agree, the sickness-centric model of US health care is very problematic.)
02/08/2009 12:34 #47679
Semolina UpmaCategory: eating in
Another day, another meal! Feel free to stop me when this gets kind of toxic. Hee Hee. :p
I used the Greek Semolina I bought at the Indian Store. It is awesome! I am SO GLAD I didn't get the conventional Indian brand!
Ding Ding...Recipe time!!
1. Bring water to a boil with a nice scoop of red chillie powder and turmeric powder. Add semolina and cook around 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat.
2. Take half-a tablespoon of peanut oil in a pan and heat till the oil is flowy. Add a pinch of each (see pictures in the post below)
- Black mustard seeds,
- Urad dal (white split lentils)
- Channe ki dal (split yellow lentils)
- Dried red chillies.
- Cumin
3. When the mustard seeds start to pop, add
- tablespoon of chopped ginger root
- Chopped green chillies (thai/indian/jalapenos) to taste
- Chopped Karuvepelai ("Curry" leaves)
Stir them around till karuvepelai becomes really fragrant!
4. Add a dash of Asafoetida powder to the above and stir
5. Add chopped red onions - saute till translucent.
6. Add chopped green bell peppers - saute a bit. Add salt to taste
7. Add cooked semolina and stir to coat the veggies on the semolina.
8. Enjoy with a cup of Mango tea!
I used to have Semia Upma for breakfast on so many Sundays, growing up - that it's as much of a Sunday morning ritual as church is to some of you. Probably a lot more "sinful". Hehe. :)
I used the Greek Semolina I bought at the Indian Store. It is awesome! I am SO GLAD I didn't get the conventional Indian brand!
Ding Ding...Recipe time!!
1. Bring water to a boil with a nice scoop of red chillie powder and turmeric powder. Add semolina and cook around 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat.
2. Take half-a tablespoon of peanut oil in a pan and heat till the oil is flowy. Add a pinch of each (see pictures in the post below)
- Black mustard seeds,
- Urad dal (white split lentils)
- Channe ki dal (split yellow lentils)
- Dried red chillies.
- Cumin
3. When the mustard seeds start to pop, add
- tablespoon of chopped ginger root
- Chopped green chillies (thai/indian/jalapenos) to taste
- Chopped Karuvepelai ("Curry" leaves)
Stir them around till karuvepelai becomes really fragrant!
4. Add a dash of Asafoetida powder to the above and stir
5. Add chopped red onions - saute till translucent.
6. Add chopped green bell peppers - saute a bit. Add salt to taste
7. Add cooked semolina and stir to coat the veggies on the semolina.
8. Enjoy with a cup of Mango tea!
I used to have Semia Upma for breakfast on so many Sundays, growing up - that it's as much of a Sunday morning ritual as church is to some of you. Probably a lot more "sinful". Hehe. :)
jenks - 02/08/09 13:34
Tiny i seriously want to hire you as my personal chef. Everything looks/sounds so delicious.... and from nice healthy ingredients. yum! I am jealous! (and starving!)
Tiny i seriously want to hire you as my personal chef. Everything looks/sounds so delicious.... and from nice healthy ingredients. yum! I am jealous! (and starving!)
Yeah, I like bird's eye view as well. Much more useful.
Local Live maps really beats google maps with that bird eye view. I don't understand why google wouldn't add that.