In this day and age where communication is VITAL in our every day lives, it really irks me when people can't spell/form proper sentences correctly. Granted, if you're an immigrant I'll be more patient with you. However, I know university students who can't spell really simple words and can't grasp basic concepts of the English language!
My biggest peeves:
It's DEFINITELY, not defanately, definately, defenetely....
It's should have, NOT should of. I don't care if it sounds like 'should of' when we say it out loud, it's HAVE.
It's and its - completely different. Don't use them interchangeably!
Your and You're - again, there's a difference!
It's grammar, not grammer; just cause it rhymes with hammer doesn't mean the ending is the same.
In the IM world, chatting without capitals is acceptable to me, and using such short forms like 'ppl', 'u', 'LOL' are okay as well. I do it all the time because it's efficient! What I don't like, is this:
'i m sik n tyrd of ppl who type lik dis b/c it gets frustratin there r no commaz so i cant tell wen dis sentence or paragraph is supposed 2 end'
If you claim to be intelligent and you can't spell it right - it makes you look stupid! (I make a lot of typos, but I can spell :P) If you're an editor and you write that you're an 'edittor', I don't want to read your newspaper. Come on people, I'm no Shakespeare, but get the basics down!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
The Dispensing Housewife // Dispensing Housewives
Never seen Desperate Housewives, but I know Eva Longoria is in it. Was chatting to a friend about her multitasking. She was "studying", "cleaning", "ironing" and "chatting" at the same time, to which I replied "you're training to become a [good] housewife!" (re: the cleaning and ironing bit). She replied, "Yes, a dispensing housewife." (the title of my blog)
I think they're both really similar! (I mean, the housewife and pharmacist in some aspects) - No offense to all those guy pharmacists :P.
While your kids/hubby don't necessarily hand you a prescription to fill, you do do things for them. Some things are unsaid, but you get it done! You buy the groceries, and make sure the house is clean and in order. Even though I'm not a wife, I have a certain threshold to which I can stand filth/disarray. As the pharmacist, you have to make sure you have enough stock (similar to food in the house), and that the pharmacy is neat and tidy so you stay on the OCP inspector's good side. You make 'lunch' for the kids to bring to school, they pick it up at the dispensary (i.e. the kitchen). Patient presents you with a script, they pick up the medications at the dispensary. Your kid brings you their test paper to sign, you sign it to acknowledge that you know how they did, and you're okay with it - maybe. As a pharmacist, you sign off on what the technician did.
When patients are non compliant (i.e. not adherent) with medication taking - you're supposed to counsel them on the importance of taking their medications/following doctor's orders. When your kids act like brats, you give them what they deserve (whether it's the white people method of 'grounding' or the asian method of the feather duster), and give them a long long lecture on why your (advice) is correct. Your husband is an @$$, no words are needed - he gets to sleep on the couch. Really bad patients? Threaten them to find another pharmacist willing to look after their crap. (see the similarities now)
Wives toil their ass off for their family and kids. Really passionate pharmacists (well, even the not so passionate ones), male and female alike, toil their ass off for their patients. A lot of work and sweat gets put into it - but I'm sure that it's very satisfying for both.
And now to avoid getting mean comments, I'm going to include (good) husbands and males as well!
I think they're both really similar! (I mean, the housewife and pharmacist in some aspects) - No offense to all those guy pharmacists :P.
While your kids/hubby don't necessarily hand you a prescription to fill, you do do things for them. Some things are unsaid, but you get it done! You buy the groceries, and make sure the house is clean and in order. Even though I'm not a wife, I have a certain threshold to which I can stand filth/disarray. As the pharmacist, you have to make sure you have enough stock (similar to food in the house), and that the pharmacy is neat and tidy so you stay on the OCP inspector's good side. You make 'lunch' for the kids to bring to school, they pick it up at the dispensary (i.e. the kitchen). Patient presents you with a script, they pick up the medications at the dispensary. Your kid brings you their test paper to sign, you sign it to acknowledge that you know how they did, and you're okay with it - maybe. As a pharmacist, you sign off on what the technician did.
When patients are non compliant (i.e. not adherent) with medication taking - you're supposed to counsel them on the importance of taking their medications/following doctor's orders. When your kids act like brats, you give them what they deserve (whether it's the white people method of 'grounding' or the asian method of the feather duster), and give them a long long lecture on why your (advice) is correct. Your husband is an @$$, no words are needed - he gets to sleep on the couch. Really bad patients? Threaten them to find another pharmacist willing to look after their crap. (see the similarities now)
Wives toil their ass off for their family and kids. Really passionate pharmacists (well, even the not so passionate ones), male and female alike, toil their ass off for their patients. A lot of work and sweat gets put into it - but I'm sure that it's very satisfying for both.
And now to avoid getting mean comments, I'm going to include (good) husbands and males as well!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Retail Therapy - A Case Report
Background question: "What is shopping?"
Foreground question:
P(atient): 22 year old female, pharmacy student, no known allergies (NKA)
I(ntervention): Spending money (aka retail therapy)
C(omparison): Napping/sitting on @$$ doing nothing
O(utcome): Feeling better emotionally after a horrid exam
In young females, is retail therapy effective in treating depression?
Article retrieved: Retail Therapy - A Case Report
Abstract: In this non-randomized, non placebo controlled, non double blinded 'study', the patient (JC) chose a retail outlet of her choice. (i.e. this study was open labeled). The primary outcome measured was emotional status (i.e. a surrogate marker). The second outcome measured was time to bankruptcy (a hard clinical endpoint, or a surrogate marker - dependent on interpretation).
Method: Patient shopped around the Eaton Centre for 2 hours. Emotional status was determined before and after the 'shopping trip'. The width of the patient's smile was measured after each successful purchase made (primary outcome) and the patient's bank statement was verified after each purchase. Successful purchases were made at the following stores: Sephora, Garage, the Disney Store and HMV.
Results: At the end of the 'study', patient noted that she felt 'much better' after spending money. On a scale of 1 to 10 (for happiness), she noted an 8 out of 10 after shopping (a 5 point increase in happiness). Patient stated that 'napping' or 'moping around' will have result in a 2 point increase in happiness at best. The ARR was -0.3 (-0.4 to 0) and RR 1.6 (1.3 to 1.9). Upon calculation, the patient spent roughly $70 an hr, speculating that bankruptcy could be achieved within a day.
Conclusions: Because the CI Interval of the RR did not touch/cross one, retail therapy is 1.6x more likely to increase/improve emotional status than napping or doing nothing. However, since the risks (i.e. losing money) outweigh risks, and emotional status is a highly subjective paramter, patients should be counselled on more appropriate alternatives such as antidepressants and St. John's Wort. However, since the RR proved statistically significant, more studies should be done.
Foreground question:
P(atient): 22 year old female, pharmacy student, no known allergies (NKA)
I(ntervention): Spending money (aka retail therapy)
C(omparison): Napping/sitting on @$$ doing nothing
O(utcome): Feeling better emotionally after a horrid exam
In young females, is retail therapy effective in treating depression?
Article retrieved: Retail Therapy - A Case Report
Abstract: In this non-randomized, non placebo controlled, non double blinded 'study', the patient (JC) chose a retail outlet of her choice. (i.e. this study was open labeled). The primary outcome measured was emotional status (i.e. a surrogate marker). The second outcome measured was time to bankruptcy (a hard clinical endpoint, or a surrogate marker - dependent on interpretation).
Method: Patient shopped around the Eaton Centre for 2 hours. Emotional status was determined before and after the 'shopping trip'. The width of the patient's smile was measured after each successful purchase made (primary outcome) and the patient's bank statement was verified after each purchase. Successful purchases were made at the following stores: Sephora, Garage, the Disney Store and HMV.
Results: At the end of the 'study', patient noted that she felt 'much better' after spending money. On a scale of 1 to 10 (for happiness), she noted an 8 out of 10 after shopping (a 5 point increase in happiness). Patient stated that 'napping' or 'moping around' will have result in a 2 point increase in happiness at best. The ARR was -0.3 (-0.4 to 0) and RR 1.6 (1.3 to 1.9). Upon calculation, the patient spent roughly $70 an hr, speculating that bankruptcy could be achieved within a day.
Conclusions: Because the CI Interval of the RR did not touch/cross one, retail therapy is 1.6x more likely to increase/improve emotional status than napping or doing nothing. However, since the risks (i.e. losing money) outweigh risks, and emotional status is a highly subjective paramter, patients should be counselled on more appropriate alternatives such as antidepressants and St. John's Wort. However, since the RR proved statistically significant, more studies should be done.
Friday, April 20, 2007
On the VT Shooting
Edit: Changed the youtube vid
Is there someone to blame? I'd say 80% of people blame him, the other 20% of people feel sorry for him as well as the victims. I fall into the latter category. Yes, he is responsible for the largest 'mass' shooting in North American history, but let's take a look at what might have lead to this. The family came to the US in 1992 to live a better life than they did in South Korea. When they first arrived there, they lived in a really poor area. While I may not know a lot of the details as I am watching this stuff on TV and reading it on citynews.ca - I think there are many things that may have lead up to this. Of course, he may have just been pure evil, but from the clip (see below) you can see that a lot of stuff he says is incoherent and that he is delusional (i.e. having a fixed, false belief). He also makes some reference to Christianity. He was a really quiet guy, that got bullied... I think all that chronic bullying finally got to him; it says that a bully actually offered to pay him to talk. I think that the disparity between the very wealthy and the extreme poor got to him as well.
I agree, there's no excuse for killing - but the warning signs for this man was there. Stalking 2 girls, the disturbing writings he possessed - obviously this guy had problems. You know how they say that patients can only receive treatment if they consent to it? Well, if individuals pose a great harm to society without treatment, I think they should be forced. Yes, everyone is 'different' - but I think that staff/faculty members, as well as students should keep an eye out for potential warning signs. "Everyone needs a friend." Sadly, I doubt he had any.
Secondly, what's with this gun policy?? As Rosanna mentioned in her blog, the only people that should own guns are the police. Unless you're in a 3rd world country or a businessman in Jamaica, there's no need for you to own a gun. Did the man ask Cho-Seung Hui what he was using it for? Did he ask for any other additional information like... age, occupation, reason for purchase. It's so scary to think that anyone can have access to a gun.
Lastly, what's with the emphasis on 'largest mass shooting in North American history'. Mass shooting ANYWHERE is bad, but look at the news coverage for this. Death - regardless of whose death it is, is bad. It hits closer to home because we're on the same continent and we're students. But are our lives really worth more than those hundreds and thousands of African children that die because of starvation, diseases etc. Is it because that deaths in Africa occur so frequently and so often that we become desensitized to it? Are not more families affected because of those deaths? AIDS mostly takes away the lives of those who are in the working class, and gravely affects the economics for that continent. Are these deaths (both massing shooting and starvation) somewhat preventable - I'd argue that they're possible to prevent.
Yes, if it happened at U of T, I'd be terrified. If someone close that I knew died as a result of a mass shooting. I'd probably want to kill the murderer myself. Killing is wrong, but I think for this case - he was not in a rational state. Maybe a bit more sensitive than others when people made fun of him, perhaps a bit too isolated (no friends), who knows what his family life was like? He needed help - but was offered none.
R.I.P. VT victims.
Is there someone to blame? I'd say 80% of people blame him, the other 20% of people feel sorry for him as well as the victims. I fall into the latter category. Yes, he is responsible for the largest 'mass' shooting in North American history, but let's take a look at what might have lead to this. The family came to the US in 1992 to live a better life than they did in South Korea. When they first arrived there, they lived in a really poor area. While I may not know a lot of the details as I am watching this stuff on TV and reading it on citynews.ca - I think there are many things that may have lead up to this. Of course, he may have just been pure evil, but from the clip (see below) you can see that a lot of stuff he says is incoherent and that he is delusional (i.e. having a fixed, false belief). He also makes some reference to Christianity. He was a really quiet guy, that got bullied... I think all that chronic bullying finally got to him; it says that a bully actually offered to pay him to talk. I think that the disparity between the very wealthy and the extreme poor got to him as well.
I agree, there's no excuse for killing - but the warning signs for this man was there. Stalking 2 girls, the disturbing writings he possessed - obviously this guy had problems. You know how they say that patients can only receive treatment if they consent to it? Well, if individuals pose a great harm to society without treatment, I think they should be forced. Yes, everyone is 'different' - but I think that staff/faculty members, as well as students should keep an eye out for potential warning signs. "Everyone needs a friend." Sadly, I doubt he had any.
Secondly, what's with this gun policy?? As Rosanna mentioned in her blog, the only people that should own guns are the police. Unless you're in a 3rd world country or a businessman in Jamaica, there's no need for you to own a gun. Did the man ask Cho-Seung Hui what he was using it for? Did he ask for any other additional information like... age, occupation, reason for purchase. It's so scary to think that anyone can have access to a gun.
Lastly, what's with the emphasis on 'largest mass shooting in North American history'. Mass shooting ANYWHERE is bad, but look at the news coverage for this. Death - regardless of whose death it is, is bad. It hits closer to home because we're on the same continent and we're students. But are our lives really worth more than those hundreds and thousands of African children that die because of starvation, diseases etc. Is it because that deaths in Africa occur so frequently and so often that we become desensitized to it? Are not more families affected because of those deaths? AIDS mostly takes away the lives of those who are in the working class, and gravely affects the economics for that continent. Are these deaths (both massing shooting and starvation) somewhat preventable - I'd argue that they're possible to prevent.
Yes, if it happened at U of T, I'd be terrified. If someone close that I knew died as a result of a mass shooting. I'd probably want to kill the murderer myself. Killing is wrong, but I think for this case - he was not in a rational state. Maybe a bit more sensitive than others when people made fun of him, perhaps a bit too isolated (no friends), who knows what his family life was like? He needed help - but was offered none.
R.I.P. VT victims.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
There's no such thing as FREE lunch.
No matter what they say, nothing comes for free. Don't get me wrong; my Chinese blood screams when I hear about things like 'free' pens, 'free' samples. I've mentioned to many of my friends how much I enjoyed my 'free' Popeye's chicken on Monday and 'free' B&J Half Baked cone on Tuesday. But alas, nothing is ever free.
Reasons why nothing is ever free:
Example 1: Popeye's chicken
Printing the coupon (the ink and paper costs money)
Walking to the store (3 minutes): we all know TIME IS MONEY.
Bringing the chicken back home, free advertising for the company while we're holding the goods with drool hanging off the side of our mouth.
Example 2: Ben and Jerry's Annual Cone Day
Accessing their website to find out which is the closest location (use up my internet, as well as time)
Walking to the store (it was a good 20 minutes... oh precious study time)
Waiting in line (thank God Steph was there - saved us a good 20 minutes)
Donating to the Children's Wish Foundation - Since it was a good cause, I donated $4! (I'm pretty sure that was more than the 'price' of my cone
Remember those free smiles you can get at McDs? Did you ever ask one of those employees to flash you their pearly whites? Well, just think that your meal is over priced and that goes towards the price of their fake smile. Those recruitment dinners next year? Again, they take up your time - time for sleeping, studying, eating. They plan on brainwashing you so that you'll want to be part of their company - they'll take up part of your brain space.
That being said, there's something about not having to physically take out your wallet and spending money that makes pseudo free things quite gratifying. I <3 free stuff :)
Reasons why nothing is ever free:
Example 1: Popeye's chicken
Printing the coupon (the ink and paper costs money)
Walking to the store (3 minutes): we all know TIME IS MONEY.
Bringing the chicken back home, free advertising for the company while we're holding the goods with drool hanging off the side of our mouth.
Example 2: Ben and Jerry's Annual Cone Day
Accessing their website to find out which is the closest location (use up my internet, as well as time)
Walking to the store (it was a good 20 minutes... oh precious study time)
Waiting in line (thank God Steph was there - saved us a good 20 minutes)
Donating to the Children's Wish Foundation - Since it was a good cause, I donated $4! (I'm pretty sure that was more than the 'price' of my cone
Remember those free smiles you can get at McDs? Did you ever ask one of those employees to flash you their pearly whites? Well, just think that your meal is over priced and that goes towards the price of their fake smile. Those recruitment dinners next year? Again, they take up your time - time for sleeping, studying, eating. They plan on brainwashing you so that you'll want to be part of their company - they'll take up part of your brain space.
That being said, there's something about not having to physically take out your wallet and spending money that makes pseudo free things quite gratifying. I <3 free stuff :)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Censoring your pictures on Facebook
Adding to the fact that potential employers can now google your life online, Facebook has become so popular that I'm positive friend, foe and potential employer will be looking at your profile.
Some people expose their entire life on facebook, luckily I changed my profile so that you can only view it if you're a friend. Which leads to the question... what pictures are NOT okay to post and/or tag?
Pictures of you making out at a club with some stranger?
You in your underwear dancing on the table?
Getting high on some THC, crack, ectasy etc?
Hrm... better start untagging some photos of myself :P
Some people expose their entire life on facebook, luckily I changed my profile so that you can only view it if you're a friend. Which leads to the question... what pictures are NOT okay to post and/or tag?
Pictures of you making out at a club with some stranger?
You in your underwear dancing on the table?
Getting high on some THC, crack, ectasy etc?
Hrm... better start untagging some photos of myself :P
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Moms are da bomb!
T - 36 hours till my first exam. Oh PK (pharmacokinetics), how I loathe thee....
I think I'm reverting back to my high school days where I didn't blog very often, I think I have blogger's block (you know, very similar to writer's block).
Just wanted to give 'propz' to my mom for preparing my lunches/dinner for me for this upcoming month! They taste soooo yummy! Much better than anything I can produce on my own...
Only mothers (perhaps fathers as well) - or maybe it's just my mom =)
Will ask you what your favourite foods are and make it for you
Individualize each lunch/dinner so that they're different
Stay up late when you go home late
Calls me to see how I'm doing
Tells me not to STRESS out so hard
Reminds me that marks aren't everything!
Tells me that she's happy as long as I'm happy!
Oh mommy... save me from 8 exams *wails*
I think I'm reverting back to my high school days where I didn't blog very often, I think I have blogger's block (you know, very similar to writer's block).
Just wanted to give 'propz' to my mom for preparing my lunches/dinner for me for this upcoming month! They taste soooo yummy! Much better than anything I can produce on my own...
Only mothers (perhaps fathers as well) - or maybe it's just my mom =)
Will ask you what your favourite foods are and make it for you
Individualize each lunch/dinner so that they're different
Stay up late when you go home late
Calls me to see how I'm doing
Tells me not to STRESS out so hard
Reminds me that marks aren't everything!
Tells me that she's happy as long as I'm happy!
Oh mommy... save me from 8 exams *wails*
Friday, April 6, 2007
Feeling - Content
Today was an amazing day! You know those days when you feel absolutely on top of the world? Where nothing is going to get you down? Well, I am currently feeling like that now and it feels great!
I'm trying to steer away from being too personal on my blogs, but I felt I just had to share. Today was Pharmacy Arts Night and I thought it went very smoothly. I'm so glad that I got to work with Catherine Chung (the Arts Night co-director); the show was very organized and there was an excellent turnout (to all my fantabulous friends of course) :)
The choir sounded sooo good (in my opinion)!!! I'm so proud of each and every one of them! I know that it's not easy to invest in 2 hrs/ week (and even up to 4-6 hrs in the last couple of weeks before Arts Night.) They were all so dedicated and patient with me! I think I've invested at least... 4 hrs/week for choir!! (+ learning the songs, booking rooms, recording mp3 files). The guys were so cute with their "Rock around the clock" and the audience joined in at the snapping fingers!
The art work and poetry was also amazing. There's a lot of talent in pharmacy and I hope that the show will continue, even after I graduate.
I'd like to thank all my friends for their love and support. I know, it's not easy to stay after school when it's long weekend and you're cold! I'm grateful for each and every one of you that came out tonight - It means a lot to me!
Lastly, thank you performers, poets, photographers, artists and audience! Weee, cloud 9 feeling!
I'm trying to steer away from being too personal on my blogs, but I felt I just had to share. Today was Pharmacy Arts Night and I thought it went very smoothly. I'm so glad that I got to work with Catherine Chung (the Arts Night co-director); the show was very organized and there was an excellent turnout (to all my fantabulous friends of course) :)
The choir sounded sooo good (in my opinion)!!! I'm so proud of each and every one of them! I know that it's not easy to invest in 2 hrs/ week (and even up to 4-6 hrs in the last couple of weeks before Arts Night.) They were all so dedicated and patient with me! I think I've invested at least... 4 hrs/week for choir!! (+ learning the songs, booking rooms, recording mp3 files). The guys were so cute with their "Rock around the clock" and the audience joined in at the snapping fingers!
The art work and poetry was also amazing. There's a lot of talent in pharmacy and I hope that the show will continue, even after I graduate.
I'd like to thank all my friends for their love and support. I know, it's not easy to stay after school when it's long weekend and you're cold! I'm grateful for each and every one of you that came out tonight - It means a lot to me!
Lastly, thank you performers, poets, photographers, artists and audience! Weee, cloud 9 feeling!
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