The setup is that I’m brought in as the science “expert” with another blogger who does this weekly doing the main commentary. In essence, I’ll be the wingman on a two man team providing some scientific backbone in a real-time blogging session that will also take some fan questions along the way. This upcoming episode promises to be a good medically-tilted one about a boy who was seemingly “cured” by drinking some spring water.  I can hardly contain myself if that teaser delivers the medical hoax debunk-fest think it’s going to.

The live web cast for the show is here and I assume it will be active around 15-10 minutes before the show actually starts. If you have time and interest, it would be great if you could join us for some multimedia primetime fun!  Hope to see you there!

What is not evident in the video above is the fact that, like many buffets of this caliber, it’s mostly full of grease-laden crap bearing no resemblance to fresh, bright Chinese food of any kind.  It’s so catering to the fried-chicken crowd that it even sports a drive-through. I kid you not. With the commercial and the food, clever gimmicks and bad substitutes go hand-in-hand. And there is no lack of people willing to eat it up.

However, a few moments of Sesame Street are actually cool and clearly have some “inside jokes” aimed at the older kids/grown-ups watching it with the little ones.** This one is perfect for the theme of today, featuring the sexy, sassy, singular Tina Fey as the Skipper of this bunch o’ scalawags! It’s about 13 minutes and has some “annoying” Elmo moments of course, but it’s all worth it for Tina and the smart-alecky muppet shipmates. I’m hosting here instead of YouTube in case of “copyright” violations (not with PBS, per se, but with hot-ticket celeb media lawyer types WRT Tina Fey)–enjoy!

And on a similar note, Change of Shift, the illustrious nursing blog carnival is hosted this week by Emily McGee, aka crzegrl, and of course also has the pirate theme built right in. She’s got multimedia content to go with all the awesome posts there, so check that out too!

In closing, yes, I know I’m posting this the day AFTER but the video encode (it’s my own personal rip from the TV, not commercial) and some other things didn’t allow me to get it in before the end of yesterday. But it’s never too late to honor pirates, right?! (and yes, I didn’t talk like a pirate, but I’m just trying to get this late post up before it gets later. Don’t make me walk the plank!)

Obviously, this is from South Park, but this time Canada strikes back!  You hear that, buddy?  Oh, I’m not your buddy, friend?  Well, OK buddy.

Believe it or not, YouTube was full of bum links for this, and obviously the copyright bots are out in full force for something like South Park, so this is my own copy and is being hosted locally.  I’ll keep this post up for a day or so then consider taking it down before the lawyers start sending C&D letters.  Happy Canada Day!

Story short, the Soviets decided they were to host a grand competition for the world’s finest pianists, violinists and cellists, all in honor of the famous Russian composer Tchaikovsky. Premier Khrushchev was certain that the Soviets would illuminate the musical world as Soviet musicians would compete and emerge victorious on an open stage for the world to see. I’m sure the Soviet Ministry of Culture had their “hand picked” winner, but the crowds were chanting Cliburn’s name. He was the obvious choice among the jury, and the shock wave was enormous. The soft-spoken Cliburn literally had women screaming as if it were a rock concert, yet Cliburn’s stage presence then and now has always been one of austere sincerity.

So powerful was the “note heard ’round the world,” that the jury had to ask Khrushchev personally to approve naming Cliburn the competition winner. And lets examine some of the luminaries on that jury: Emil Gilels, jury chairman (photo w/Cliburn), Dmitri Shostakovich, Sviatoslav Richter, to name a few: to have won over these geniuses, regardless of nationality or politics, was a feat unto itself. Imagine it! The gold medal of the inaugural Soviet competition in honor of the grandfather of Russian classical music–going to a practically unknown American at a time when the USSR was spilling over with national communist pride. So powerful was this weaponless and honest victory, that Cliburn received a ticker-tape parade in New York upon his return. Usually reserved for sports champions, military heroes, or pop-culture icons, no other classical artist before or since has ever received that honor. Cliburn’s live recording of the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto made upon returning back to the USA (with the Soviet conductor and orchestra from the competition no less) was the first classical album to go platinum, selling over a million copies. A classical album!!

No longer making recordings but still playing limited engagements, he is more known now for the international piano competition that bears his name. It shows his character that Cliburn stayed true to his roots and had the competition held in Fort Worth (ie, not neighboring Dallas or any other “big” city) where this small, humble city becomes the musical capital of the world for two weeks every four years. The Cliburn Foundation also hosts a competition for amateur pianists on off-years, something I have always had on my “Have to do before I die” list–just to participate.

Below is a video clip of Cliburn playing the last movement of Tchaikovsky’s Concerto No. 1 in 1962 during one of Cliburn’s numerous tours of the Soviet Union. This one happens to be in Moscow, with the same conductor and orchestra, and in the same hall as when he won the competition four years earlier. You can even see Khrushchev himself applauding during the last few seconds of the video. Understand that this was the same year as when the world was on the brink of nuclear holocaust from the Cuban missile crisis, yet there Cliburn was on Russian soil, wowing Soviet audiences with their own national composers. Seeing the video, it’s not hard to understand how Cliburn was and is a true musical ambassador of peace in the name of great music and art. Enjoy!

(For more, go to the Van Cliburn Foundation page and follow “50th Anniversary” links for more videos and interviews of Van Cliburn then and now)

UPDATE, Thursday PM:

The show has changed as of this afternoon to shift focus on what I’m going through with UAG. Several factors went into this decision, made by Dr. A., and outlined here. Times, links, directions, etc. are still all the same.

Being a follower of the show and having been on the ‘air’ before as a caller, I can definitely say that participating in the chat room, available only just before the time of the broadcast (and lasting until sometime after) is just as fun as listening, like a running commentary while the show is going on.

I highly encourage people not only to tune in, but to stop by the BTR radio show site to create an account (see “Register” at top of page) before the air time so you can be identified as someone other than “Guest12345″ in the chat room. If you can’t make it for the live broadcast, don’t worry–the archive of the show will be available within 24 hours to listen at your leisure.

Hope to see you there!

El plazo para mandarme sus obras para Grand Rounds ha terminado.

(Translation: Like MC Hammer, it’s too late for a comeback.)

I want that too.

Something worthy of mention: Brooke Shields is actually one of the models in the girl’s clothing picture! And for those of you who think (correctly) that the fashion industry nowadays sends the wrong message to girls to be unreasonably thin, check out that same picture which advertises “also chubby sizes.” (!!!) That’s one step away from me regressing to a 10-year-old being bought Sears Toughskins “husky” sized jeans. AAAH!!! Not the “X” stitched on the back pocket! Nooooo!!!

There’s also another page of PG-13 items, like “water pipes.” (Hash sold separately)

(via BoingBoing)

I’ve only watched the first 20 minutes or so, but if I’m brave enough I’ll post my useless review/opinion in the next day or so. Of course I’m leaving off how I got the video. It’s confidential research materials, after all.

P.S. For those returning readers wondering where the school posts of late went, I’m going to make a final update on that later today. Don’t worry–it’s not bad news. (for once)

“Well, it didn’t help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn’t a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn’t speak like I’d just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime, [sic]” he said.

“I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that ’some people’ were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I’m a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn’t go around saying ‘Yessah, massa sir’ and ‘No sir, massa’ to everyone?

Hmm, I guess simply being an asshole never factored into it. Calling a co-worker a ‘faggot’ more than once could be grounds for dismissal in any job, depending on the circumstances. This is show business, though, and the opinions of fickle fans (and sponsors) matter more than Washington’s sense of justice (and it’s not like he’s an A-list superstar, or anything to begin with). Maybe there was racism on the set, and this is all that was needed for ABC to axe (as in the cutting implement, not the verb, ‘to ask’) Washington, their “dilemma” solved. Chandra Wilson, the other Black cast member doesn’t seem to be saying there’s a racist element on the set. But she keeps her mouth shut and doesn’t get “uppity,” I’m sure Washington would say.

It just astonishes me (well, maybe not) that certain obviously talented and educated people in the Black community resort to slavery allusions in the unfairness of how they are treated today. Not even Jim Crowe–slavery.

This isn’t Roots, this is 2007. Grow the fuck up.

But seriously, I have enjoyed YouTube ever since it came out, but like most people, only to watch little ditties people forward me and get a good laugh. I had no idea that there were soap operas and all sorts of things broadcast via people’s webcams–like I care about the dating life of some chick who’s known only as “T1f4nny.” Please. However, I discovered a phenomenal thing that has been sucking up all my time recently–vintage classical music videos and other rare performances. (yes, this is where you guffaw mercilessly at my geekiness) I’m talking rare footage from the 50s or 60s of Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, or David Oistrakh not previously seen outside the (then) Soviet Union or, on the other side of the spectrum, pristine (as much as YouTube can handle) footage from a live concert in Japan last year of Arcadi Volodos from someone’s camcorder. 99% of you have no idea who these people are, and that’s OK–trust me when I tell you that these are giants of their respective instruments (and yes, they are all Russian, but that’s usually the way I roll, musically).

To see what I mean, go here to watch a clip of Volodos from somebody’s frickin’ living room for crying out loud, playing Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” from A Midsummer Nights’ Dream (arranged by Vladimir Horowitz and Volodos). All those words will mean nothing once you hear the first few notes, but please keep watching at least past 1:20 because that’s when the fireworks start. Now what kind of chance would I ever have had to see Arcadi Volodos in the first place much less be privvy to a private performance?! Thank you Internet, thank you YouTube.

As for MySpace, up until a few weeks ago, all I knew of it was “where the kids hang out online” and that it was always associated with various pedophile scandals since, obviously, that’s where the “kids” hang out. After hearing enough comments from some people in class about what they read, I finally logged in expecting to see nothing but teenage crap. Oh. My. God. 1/4 of the planet has a profile on MySpace, and now I do too (which is pretty irrelevant considering I never go there, but you need to create one to see much of anything). I think perhaps HALF of my medical school class actively maintain their MySpace profile, and within a week of signing up, I got a random email from a person who went to my high school asking if I remembered him (I didn’t). I had no idea so many “older” folks actively frequent MySpace. I have enough problems keeping up with blogging and emailing, so I’ll leave the MySpace to others, but from what time I did spend on there, it was obvious it had complete “black hole” status, following so-and-so’s friends, comments, etc. It’s similar to blogging in a kind of LiveJournal or Blogger way in it is a pre-built community, but SOOO much deeper and bigger. And far more hideous. I swear people’s MySpace profiles look like a scary glimpse into a schizophrenic mind.

As much as finding/following profiles of pathetic pop star wannabes on MySpace is loads of fun, I’ll stick with YouTube.

Bling H2O [note the inconsistency of the logotype presentation] is the inspiration of Kevin G. Boyd, Hollywood writer-producer. While working on various studio lots where image is of the utmost importance he noticed that you could tell a lot about a person by the bottled water they carried. [I suppose my Kirkland H₂O would label be as a janitor.]

[Bling's] mission was to offer a product with an exquisite face to match exquisite taste. The product is strategically positioned to target the expanding super-luxury consumer market. Initially introduced to hand-selected athletes and actors, Bling H2O is now excitedly expanding it’s availability… Bling h₂O is pop-culture in a bottle. But it’s not for everyone, just those that Bling.

Bling H2O comes in Limited Edition, corked, 750ml, recyclable frosted glass bottles, exquisitely handcrafted with Swarovski Crystals.

This stuff costs $35 a bottle, $420 for a case of 12 (no savings for you!). For water. The same stuff that falls freely from the sky.

I am imagining the genius of Mr. Boyd, as his little minimum wage army armed with glue guns, dab cheap-ass Swarovski knock-off crystals onto these frosted bottles before filling them with water from the hose outside his LA house. Apparently Paris Hilton uses these to give to her dog, Tinkerbell. That’s about all you need to know.

You see, this kind of ridiculous excess is why people from impoverished, oppresed 3rd-world nations see the United States and hate us so much. But it’s ok: we have good will messengers like Madonna, who will adopt/steal their children one at a time.

(what does this have to do with medicine and/or Mexico? absof-inglutely nothing. I’m just procrastinating studying for a pharmacology exam. )

Imagine my delight when I discovered a site full of authentic Soviet-era propaganda posters! (The linked poster’s caption reads, “Chatterbox–a gift to the enemy!”) I love the sneering, “I’m turning you in” look of the guy in the background–priceless. Through a small attempt at learning Russian about 5 years ago, I can read a little bit of simple words, but to enjoy the site you’ll need to make heavy use of Babelfish.

I know this is probably not for everyone (probably only me), but I thought I’d post something interesting and different.

Weaving this back to med school, I can say without having done a day of ob/gyn rotation that I know I’d never want to be an ob/gyn (OBG). No, it’s not the hours, the 14251:1 female:male ratio these days, or even dealing with the, shall we say, “messier” parts and functions (not the least of which is childbirth itself). No, I’d never be an OBG because I’d probably lose my license in the first few years of practice. I come from an area of high welfare mother prevalence, where having another child is a financial advantage to a degree (in spite of no job) because then you get more as a household, and one more mouth to feed isn’t that much more. I’m not kidding.

At some point I’d just snap, fake/forge a consent form, and I’d tie their frickin’ tubes under the pretense of some other pelvic procedure. I’d be doing society a favor. I’d eventually get caught, then not pay off my $500k student loan debt, be forced to declare bankruptcy, lose my wife and kids, yatta yatta. It wouldn’t be a good scene. Why put myself through all that? Better to stick a “safe” residency, like medical transcription or clinical transportation. heh.

I know Brit/KFed’s new bundle of trailerpark joy is not being funded on a dole, but I can’t help but draw parallels here. I know it’s insensitive, unethical and all that to say that some people shouldn’t [further] reproduce, but damn!