Thank You and Goodbye

Thank You
A couple of weeks ago a 26 billion dollar package was passed by the government to deliver two main objectives. The first was to ensure that teachers would not be laid off and the second was to shore up medicaid programs in the states (government insurance for the poor). The next day I went to my children and thanked them for being so generous with their money. In essence the government is borrowing/stealing money which will be paid back in the future by my children and grand children. The government is basically taking their future income and giving it to me so I can take care of poor people. So thank you kids, for transferring your future wealth to me.

They are also transferring this stolen money to support ridiculous and unsustainable government pensions. This is instead of making the tough and necessary changes in those benefits just to continue pandering to secure votes and power. HOW IRRESPONSIBLE of these generational thieves to steal this money? They spend money as if there is no payback. Both parties are at fault (you know which one primarily) and are a bunch of pathetic cowards.

Good Bye
Yesterday I sent off my first child, my only daughter. She went to study abroad for 10 months before she starts college next Fall. I suppose I wasn't prepared for how difficult it was going to be for me. As if a piece of me has been removed, and one of my best parts. The years of her living with me under the same roof are over. It went way too fast. The memories are so numerous but it is difficult to think about them because they are by definition in the past and this marks the transition to a new stage for which I am not prepared. The memories just reinforce this painful change.

My daughter's main worry and apprehension was she didn't want things to change. She was worried that the dynamics of the family, the day to day relationship would be altered by her absence. Although I reassured her that things can never change between us, inevitably her absence produces a huge void in our household. Although this change is extremely difficult for me, it is good change. I know time will heal this emotional wound but in the meantime it is extremely difficult. As we enter a new and different stage in our father daughter relationship I know we will share experiences that exceed anything so far. So goodbye to my daughter for now. I miss you and love you so much.

Ground Zero Mosque, Too Close or Too Far

I think I have come up with the perfect location for the 9/11 mosque. Some say it is too close to the terrorist massacre that occurred but I say it is not close enough. I mean why should the mosque be built a whole two blocks away from ground zero. I propose that the mosque be located on the top floor of the Freedom Tower. Yes, one third of a mile up in the air in the replacement to the World Trade Center is the ideal place and fulfills several important goals.

I suspect it will be difficult to lease out the space on that floor. For whatever reason, companies and employees may fear occupying the top floor. By locating the mosque on that floor it alleviates this concern. Perhaps as time goes on they will need to expand and occupy more floors. Probably a Halal restaurant will need to be built on the floor. Maybe some office space or sleeping quarters for visiting Muslim leaders and dignitaries. Yes, put them all on the top floors of the Freedom Tower.

As tenants the Muslim community will be paying rent to support the existence of the replacement to the World Trade Center. This is a wonderful way to demonstrate their rejection of extremist Muslims. What better way to spend their dollars than to assist in the success of the building that was brought down in the name of Islam. Quite a statement by moderate Muslims that they will not be brought down by the extremists amongst their ranks.

The Mosque will be called the Cordoba Mosque in the Sky and will be the highest Mosque in the world attracting many tourists. The top floors will be packed with Muslim tourists from around the world to take in the views, be called to prayer, and to catch a bite at the Halal Windows of the World.

By putting a mosque on the top floor I think the chances of another similar attack on the building is brought way down. Al Quaeda will certainly be deterred from sending another plane or planting a car bomb in the basement if the result is the destruction of the Cordoba Mosque in the Sky along with their brethren in the building. It serves as a great deterrent.

Finally, Imam Rauf should have his top floor office facing New Jersey with all glass windows so he has a great view of any incoming aircraft.

9/11 Mosque, My Two Cents

Regarding the 9/11 mosque, there were two thoughts I heard that I thought were the most interesting. I am not sure where I heard the first but it alluded to the fact that the Muslims can build a mosque at ground zero when the Jews can build a synagogue in Mecca. This comment distinguishes the degree to which other religions are tolerated by Judaism and Islam. While the Jews and Christians are tolerant of Islam, unfortunately, the opposite cannot be said. By being intolerant of other religions, Islam engenders resistance when it requests to build a mosque based on our rules of equality, fairness, and tolerance.

The second was the comment by Newt Gingrich that if the goal of building the 9/11 mosque is to promote tolerance then why not have a building that houses a mosque, a church, and a synagogue. Let the religions co-exist in a building and be a microcosm of co-existence and tolerance. Let there be interfaith dialogue with classes, open debates, and courses that anyone can enrol into and potentially view over the Internet all over the world. If the religions can demonstrate peaceful coexistence and constructive communication in this building it will serve as an example to the entire world.

I think the sole purpose of this building should be as a symbol of tolerance amongst the religions. This is exactly the opposite of the mindset of the 9/11 terrorists and will have exactly the opposite outcome as the one intended by the terrorists (to instill terror). It should serve to eliminate suspicion and fear. Trust not terror should be the aim of this institution. It will hopefully serve as a deterrent to prevent future acts of intolerance and would also serve to encourage future generations to "buy in" to the idea of religious tolerance primarily amongst Muslims.

Unfortunately, the current plan does not appear to promote tolerance. In fact, it seems to be worsening the isolation of Muslims and promoting suspicion and fear. This is an enormous chance for moderate Islamic leaders to change their image that currently exists. By promoting inter-religious tolerance through this initiative they can impact future generations throughout the world.

OR Personnel

I was in the operating room a few days ago doing some procedures and a couple of things occurred which demonstrated the stupidity that has infiltrated the medical field. It also demonstrates the degree to which the legal profession has hamstrung the medical profession into the way we treat patients and in performing meaningless tasks which detract from patient care.

Besides the patient there are four professionals in the operating room. The surgeon, the anesthesiologist, the circulating nurse and the scrub tech (the person who assists the surgeon). The job of the nurse is to be available to the patient and the anesthesiologist throughout the procedure. In recent years all they have time to do is fill out the enormous volume of paperwork that must be completed for each procedure. In my case, a child was undergoing a procedure and the nurse was complaining that at the end of the procedure she had not yet completed her paperwork and was unable to help the patient. I do not blame her but I blame the lawyers who have created an atmosphere where everything has to be documented to such a degree in case anyone in the future needs to look back. More attention is paid to the paperwork than to the patient who is having surgery.

Due to the recent incidences of operations being performed on the incorrect side, the surgeon is asked to mark the site in the waiting room before entering the OR. My case involved an elderly gentleman who had a visible lesion on the outside of his ear. It was clearly evident to anyone who would look. The nurse asked me to mark the site. I said to her you must be kidding, the lesion is the mark. She agreed with me but told me this is the policy and I must comply. So here I was ridiculously making a mark next to a visible lesion to pacify some bureaucrat that created a policy to prevent lawsuits.

Although, the lawyers are supposed to institute changes which benefit the population, they have in certain circumstances created a system that forces that care to be diminished. We are so concerned with the threats of a lawsuit that our judgements are impaired and it is the patients that suffer. By instituting blanket policies it reinforces the belief not to use one's common sense but to create policies that dumb down everybody to pacify the lawyers.

In addition to the patient and the four professionals in the operating room I should truly add that invisible person that lurks in the shadows waiting to second guess, the patient's lawyer.