15 Items or Less

Posted by Reid at 6:54 p.m.

What the fuck is so hard to understand? Did you not learn to count? I see you are wearing the school's sweatpants, so this can indicate one of two things to me: you are a sibling of someone slightly more intelligent or university really is letting everyone in these days. My guess is the latter. I suppose there is one more probable explanation besides you being a complete fucktard. You could be a self-centered cunt.

But what? There is more than one of your kind? Of four express isles at Safeway, how does each one have someone with more than 15 items?

15 is far too many, in my opinion. I think it should be 9. Or, 5 even. Maybe we could have one isle 5, one isle 9, and two isles 15. I think that would make a great compromise between the word "express" and efficiency in terms of use of personnel. I also think that tills at such stations should count how many items there are and when it gets to the limit you are told to either go put back what hasn't been scanned, or take you stuff to another line. That way, we are actually enforcing the rules that have been set out for efficiency.

Now I know, it's a few minutes extra that I stand in line to buy my lettuce and carrots, what's the big deal? Really, it's not the time. It's the emergence of the worst "me" generation in history that chokes me and the lack of respect people have for other people.

A fine example of this is a survey that was conducted in the 50s and then again a few years ago. The study was looking at prestige associated with occupations. People were asked to give a score out of 100 for the prestige of each job listed. Doctor sits at the top of the 50s and the 00s list, while shoe shiner sits at the bottom of both. The interesting part wasn't the position of the jobs that was interesting, but the actual score assigned. In the 1950s, being a doctor was given a score of 97 while shoe shiner was given a score of 84. The 00s had the doctor rated as 88 while the shoe shiner was at 46.

I don't think that the change score that the shoe shiner profession received is all that surprising (I don't even know a shoe shiner these days, but my parents probably know the person from their town that shined shoes). I think the most interesting thing is the fall in the perception of doctors' prestige and the relatively high score of shoe shiners in the 1950s. Why has a scale of prestige dropped so much? Why did people used to think that shining shoes was almost as prestigious of a job as we now find being a doctor, which currently tops the list? I think it's due to a lack of respect for the fellow man (and women).

[side topic quickly: why is it an issue to call general persons "man"? In French, "ils" could mean group of boys or a group of boys or girls. I don't struggle with that concept, nor should I struggle with the word man having dual meaning in context as either a single man or a mixture of man and woman. At no point has "man" ever stood for solely the female gender, just like in the romance languages. "Elles" is specifically a group of all girls. I just don't understand why people get their panties in a knot over it.]

The respect for other people is replaced by egocentric ideas of superiority. Where is one's modesty these days? I know I am preaching to the choir with those few that read this blog, but there are a lot of people that are head-down self-centered fucktards. Take, for example, anyone who wants to get into medicine.

Medicine requires an immense amount of volunteering to get an interview. Often one or two groups isn't enough. Of course, med hopefuls know this and sign up for all sorts of groups and causes. Most of them never put in the time required to make it a success (since they've joined so many). I can think of numerous examples of people that have signed up for more than 10 groups around campus. One particular example is young man currently in medicine at Queens. He had all sorts of volunteering/extracurricular "experience" but the one he was most involved in was the "Triathlon Club". Sure, it's a club, you don't have to do everything. He went once a week to swim. Once a fucking week. Yeah, that's going to show well if/when you race with the club. I am sure they are happy to have you and your lazy ass. This is the same person that told me my guitar sucked because of its backing but it turns out his chord repertoire was limited to G, C, A, and E chords. Considering how much time he spent "practicing" I am sure it went on his med application. Could he play? No better than I can with my feet (no, seriously. I can play a G, E and A with my feet).

What's my point with all this? Here's a person so blinded by their desire to do medicine, that they are letting all sorts of groups down. He has a perception of greatness in everything he does, even if it's not up to much compared to others around him. If anyone asks you about getting into medicine, you can tell them that it's not about being smart, giving, or achievement. It's about fucking as many people in the ass, stomping on as many feelings as you can, and putting yourself as the most important thing.

Why is it such a "me" generation? Well, we come from a time when our parents gave us all sorts of things growing up, we have the internet so we can do what we want when we want, and we are told that we are the most important person. Maybe this could be blamed for that decrease in love these days. People can say they love each other, and I guess it's how you define it. My definition is long, but one of the requirements is selflessness. When in love, you are willing to give up parts of your life to help the other person succeed in theirs. Parents, in the act of loving their children, often give up social events, time, hobbies and money for their children. If a child needs to move somewhere for school, sports, or surgery, the parents will often move the whole family. These days, we are told not to pick up and move for people. We shouldn't "chase" people. We aren't suppose to pick a school based on being closer to someone, we aren't suppose to pick a career path based on wanting to spend time with a single person. We can, but our parents and friends frown upon it. There will always be a "what you could have done" hanging over your head. That's not what life, love and respect are all about.

We should respect people who have found more in their life than just themselves. There are more feelings associated with life than being a high achieving, wealthy, well respected and a powerful member of society, and yet I feel that those are the only things that most people want these days. I've reached a point where I know I probably won't do anything spectacular or influential in my life (even though it'd be cool to do). I'm going to be an average tax payer that probably has a nice little suburban family that enjoys summer time BBQing and a beer in the sunshine. I hope to have a few good friends (and obviously a wife, with the kids and all), and some enjoyable hobbies. I hope I can give up on dreams and be completely happy with my life and the people around me. I hope I can go to the grocery store and not stand in the express isle behind someone with 23 fucking items.

Short List of Library Disturbances

Posted by Reid at 10:36 a.m.

I love finals, I really do. I get up, go to the library, put in some solid work at my own pace, head to the gym when I want, eat when I want. It's a good life. Maybe it's part of the 4th year apathy, maybe it's weather, but finals haven't been stressful this year.

I can't, however, say the same for other people that I've seen at the library this year. It's funny to see people at their breaking limit for an entire 8 hours (well, they are only there for 3 because they take 2 hour lunches, and all sorts of breaks). This library season has seen me notice things of annoyance that I wasn't so sensitive to before, probably because I was stressed myself. I've compiled a short list of retarded things in the library that aren't the normal "turn you cell phone off" or "don't talk":

1. Text Messages
2. Laptops
3. No shoes
4. Crackers
5. Ear plugs

Text Messages:
I don't mind the person having their phone on silent and leaving to talk, no biggie. What I can't stand is this new age of messages that people type out on their phones. It's a constant clicking from them pushing the buttons. It's fairly loud (even if they don't think so), but more importantly they have nothing to say. I read one guy's text message: "what r u doing". What is up with this world? Do you really need to know that moment what that person is doing? Shouldn't you just focus on what you are suppose to be doing?

Laptops:
I go to the library to avoid my computer. MSN is a distraction, music is a distraction, news is a distraction. I see no reason to need to bring your computer. If you are typing a report up, don't come to the library. Your clicking isn't welcome during finals. It is especially frowned upon when you clicking noise is MSN to your friend. Why do you need to come to the library to MSN? Go fuck yourself you self absorbed whore.

No Shoes
No Shoes, No Service. Well, not at the library, a place that everyone thinks is their home. Come in your PJs and kick off your shoes, we'll just have a slumber party! Guess what? If you are so focused on your comfort you probably aren't focusing on your studying. I just hate people that "study so hard" since they are the first to whine. PS, it's gross when you go to the washroom without shoes. There is shit on the floor, I swear.

Crackers
Our brains need sugar to function properly, so you should be allowed to eat in the library. Now, I must ask why people insist on chips and crackers - the loudest food out there. How about a fucking orange or a banana? No, apples are bad too. Who the fuck busts out an apple in the library? The same people that don't wear shoes.

Ear plugs
You'd think ear plugs are the greatest thing while studying, wouldn't you? Block out the noise of others and let you focus on your own little world. When I see someone with ear plugs I run far away, because these are the loudest fuckers in the library. They have no idea how much noise they make because they've plugged their ears. I honestly think that ear plugs should be BANNED from libraries since they only benefit the person using them and make the place a whole bunch louder.


Meh, done for the day. Time for gym and whatnot.

Update on "girls": Some new girl from library is now of interest. Others are doing a lot better now that exams are done. I told you exams make people go crazy!

Relationships Explained

Posted by Reid at 3:16 p.m.

In the pursuit of someone new following the summer parting, I've ventured in numerous directions without much luck. If there is one thing I've managed to do, it's make a few more friends. Friends that drain the wallet and my mind. While talking to a girl that I find fairly attractive, she was complaining about being treated like a piece of meat because you get used and abused. If she really wanted to be treated well and unlike a piece of meat, she would be all over me. But she's not, so I can only assume she is full of shit.

I also know that she has no idea what she is talking about, because people get used all the time even when not a piece of meat. I will explain my experience with this briefly.

I usually treat my friends, particularly girls, very well. They don't often have to pay for much of their own stuff, they get a lot of free meals and what seems like unlimited favours. I don't ask too much from them in return...actually, almost nothing.

I find that these "friendships" are usually based on my ability to do something for them. It could be from printing their notes, making them dinner, helping them with their biochemistry, downloading videos for them, editing projects for them, proof reading etc. It seems rare that anyone wants to get together these days to just hangout since they are just "so busy". Instead, there has to be an excuse to get together (revolving around their needs, see above). Nonetheless, the friendship grows for a little while.

Now, could one assume that if you are doing things together every day and becoming close friends that you might make a decent couple? According to girls, no...their line is, "You'll make some woman very happy one day". I hate this line. How about I make you happy today, bitch? Are you saying to my face that I'm not good enough for you? Or just straight up saying I'm ugly? You think you are hot shit, do you? The reason you're still single is because you aren't as great as you think you are. God damn, people piss me off...just makes me want to hate fuck them even more.

Anyway, for those who don't know, I've bent over backwards the past 2 weeks for two different girls and they are both off finding other hot boys, but they will come back when they need help with finals....and yes, it pisses me off.

Thanks to Johnny, this is an accurate depiction of how relationships will work depending on either your physical attractiveness or your mental attractiveness. Since I get ass raped as a friend, I could use a bit more physical attractiveness, while the girl who complained about being used as a piece of meat obviously needs some more mental attractiveness.

The best part by far is the null set. And yes, I am sure everyone likes to think they could inhabit that currently void area, but it is null for a reason...it can't exist. It would annihilate itself in perfection...or even worse...the null set is God. *shudder*.

Something Completely Different

Posted by Reid at 1:11 p.m.

In my last year of my program at the University of Alberta, I have had the opportunity to participate in some pretty cool things. One of the coolest was a surgery on a rat. I'm taking this space up on the blog to explain the procedure and show some pictures.

[A note from Johnny: If you're squeamish like I am, be warned. Otherwise, enjoy the rat pictures.]

The rat was anaesthetised with a ketamine anaesthetic. For those of you up on street drugs, that's Special K which has a similar mechanism to PCP/Angel Dust (NMDA-receptor drugs). These drugs are dissociative anaeasthetics, allowing the rat to be dissociate from the pain even if it wakes up mid surgery. It's a good thing, because my rat did wake up a bit mid surgery. His head snapped up while digging around the nerves in his neck. No need for me to explain in words, I have pictures.



Rat = 500g. Note the urine escaping his bladder onto the hot water bottle. Under anaesthetic the rat will loose control of it's bladder and constantly leaks. He's on a hot water bottle and under a heat lamp because of his inability to regulate his body temperature. Well, let's cut him open.
And yes, he is still alive. I need his heart to pump to run the tests.







A nice little incision removes the epithelium. This was done with regular scissors. Nothing too spectacular here. Almost no bleeding, just a bunch of tissue. Now to find the carotid artery.











It's a bit of a dig but sure enough you find a large tube like tissue. Beneath it lies the trachea and carotid, so off we go.











Opened up, you can easily see the rat's trachea. The carotid is just in behind it, so using tweezers you pull up to front as shown in the next picture.









It's tough to tell, but there is a nerve attached to the carotid. This makes the vessel less flexible and nearly impossible to work with. It took two of use to remove the nerve from the vessel.











Use some ties to keep the artery pulled forward and accessible. But knotting tightly on the distal (left) side of the vessel, the vessel swells so we can see it with a bit more ease.










Time to cut. Take some scissors, find the vessel, cut it about half way through and hope for the best. If that clamp isn't on correctly blood goes everywhere, so you hope for the best and cut away.









Success! Now to run a tube into the artery to measure the blood pressure and heart rate. It's a lot harder to do that I would have thought. It probably took longer than the rest of the surgery.








Tie the tube down, flush with heparin to remove any clots and viola! Cannula #1 done. Next is the jugular.












So I skipped a bunch of steps and just went to the tie down of the jugular. It looks sexy, no?

This tube will carry drug directly in to the rat's heart. The experiment called for acetylcholine and atropine to determine the effects on blood pressure and heart rate. The rat lived until the end of the surgery when he was injected with euthenol. It killed the rat within 5 seconds. The other method would be to take scissors and cut its chest cavity open and toss it in the garbage.

All in all, it was a great learning experience and it showed the difficulty of in vivo experiments.

To the anonymous who loves Johnny, just tell him face to face. I am pretty sure it will drive him crazy...unless of course you are a male, in which case you can keep it your little secret.