Double Standard? [NSFW]

The picture above is of a Calvin Klein store on Madison. Had the ad featured a nude female model the first thing I would've probably noticed was the use of yet another depiction of a woman in a vulnerable position. But since the ad features a male model all I managed to notice was its, um, aesthetic qualities with nary a thought about the implication of public displays of nudity.

I Have Sinned!

And I repent. Despite being a totally cool, suave, and debonair blogger it turns out I've been guilty of a newbie sin--hotlinking pics with abandon--for quite some time now. I've just become aware of this yesterday, read up on it, and I plan to go back through my archive and correct the problem.

For shame, and thank you to the commenter who alerted me to the problem. It won't happen again.

The New York Times Notices TheWellTimedPeriod, Sort Of

(click to enlarge)

My plan for world domination through blogging continues apace as New York Times editors notice and track The Well-Timed Period. Granted, the section the blog is highlighted in is not the best fit but, hey, a future ruler of the world has to start somewhere, no?

The Politicosphere Map

My plan of world domination through blogging (category: Feminism, Political, really? Figures, French people and their love of pink.) is proceeding according to plan:


(click to enlarge)

Fet[al] Life

You know you have a one track mind when you see fetlife.com in your referral logs and the only source you can think of is a fetus site.

My Secret Identity, Revealed

Photo by rosemania

Turns out I am, after all, a man. Who knew?


(via)

Harlem No More?

Newly constructed apartment buildings give Harlem a spiffy new image. So much so that, if you don't pay attention, you have no idea you're actually in Harlem.

Today I had a chance to take a bus ride up Frederick Douglass Boulevard (8th Ave.) into Harlem. I had not been up that way in a number of years and I was stunned by the transformation. Gone were the nice, historical Harlem buildings and corner stores:

Harlem

Harlem

Harlem, Amsterdam News

Replacing them, all over the place (and I do mean all over the place), shiny new, utterly bland, apartment buildings:

Harlem, New Building 1

Harlem, New Building

The new buildings are nice, in a nondescript kind of way, and most are only a few stories high so, at least in that regard, they do manage to blend in with the few remaining old buildings. Thankfully I didn't see too many of those insufferable all glass skyscrapers that are popping up all over the city. [If you really want a challenge, try telling two of those apart.]

The problem with the new buildings is that they have a dulling effect; they're like giant erasers orderly going about eliminating all the interesting, original, colorful, unruly marks, and leaving behind a blank, mostly beige, page. There was no sense that you're in Harlem. Even the street life seemed muted; there were almost no people about, and most of the storefronts in the new buildings were still empty. [For those not familiar with the city, 8th Ave. is a major residential and commercial street.]

Mind you, I used to live on 119th/Amsterdam so I'm in no way romanticizing the past, when sights like this abandoned building were common place:

Harlem, Empty Building

The empty, boarded, or even burnt, up buildings were terrible and detracted from the appearance of the neighborhood, not to mention the quality of life of its residents. But still, the area managed to somehow retain its character and vibrancy. What I saw today was a sparkly, sanitized version of pod suburbia, USA.

I'm all for progress and modern conveniences, but I must say I was surprised to see what a drastic effect modernization has on a neighborhood's identity.

PetStyle Comes Bearing Gifts

I was walking my dog last night and neither one of us was in the best of moods, what with the 83 degrees at 9 PM and about 1000 humidity. As I'm nearing my building, I notice a man, carrying something in his hand, crossing the street and heading straight for me.

I immediately adopt the standard "What.Is.Your.Problem/Advance at your own risk!" posture. Luckily, for me, I do hold back a bit on the attitude since I'm right in front of my building, the man is dressed in full business attire and the thing in his hand is pink.

Turns out all the man wanted to do was to give me a goody bag for my dog. Apparently the PetStyle people had just finished a function nearby and, as they were packing up their car, they decided to hand out treats to passing doggies (and their not-so-friendly-at-first-glance owners).

Here's the present (T-shirt, water bottle, shampoo and organic treats--ironic, if you knew my dog, Mr. I-never-met-any-street garbage-"treat"-I-didn't-like):

PetStyle gift

And here's my dog after his walk:

Sleeping dog

I checked out PetStyle, the first broadband pet channel for dog and cat owners, and it looks interesting. The site is geared to both dog and cat people and it's a mix of pet resources and pet entertainment. I'm not all that into their celebrity pets section, but I do like the Health and Wellness and Pictures areas.

So, thank you to the PetStyle people for the present and good to know that, sometimes, strangers approaching you at nigh come bearing gifts.

I Encounter Nature

Alas, without a camera. Just walked my dog in the park and I saw, all in the same area: a raccoon, a big bird, a cat, and 5 ducks. My odd dog didn't even look at the animals; he was too busy grazing on the foliage. I wasn't able to find a park ranger to alert him about the cat, so now I have to figure out whom I should call about that poor cat.

Blog Titles

The Princess Bride was on last night and I thought these lines would make good blog titles:

Unemployed in Greenland
Screeching Eels
Inconceivable
The Cliffs of Insanity
Let Me Explain [this one would fit my blog]
Who's Right, And Who's Dead
I Would Not Say Such Things If I Were You

I still have to rename TWTP; a shorter name is the main thing I'm going for. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

TWTP And The Karolinska Institute

We [and by that I mean me] here at TWTP [I sooo need to change this name] blog are proud to announce that We. Have. Arrived!

The Karolinska Institute lists this blog as a reference in the Menstruation Disturbances category. We make the list with Using Lybrel (Anya) to Control Menstruation [A bit surprised at their pick, but then, let's be honest, who cares. It's the Karolinska Institute!]

Tampax, the Mayo Clinic, and TWTP. World domination scheme proceeding according to plan.

Avian Influenza And The City

Is this a city government prepared to deal with the problem of avian influenza (bird flu)? You tell me.

For the past couple of days, as I walked my dog (think major City Ave., with major pedestrian traffic), I've noticed a dead bird--not a pigeon; something much smaller--on the sidewalk. My first concern was to insure that my dog doesn't go anywhere near that area. [Let's just say that the memory of a certain puppy who, one day in the park oh so many years ago, returned triumphantly with a dead rodent in his mouth is still totally fresh in my memory. As are my subsequent frantic calls to various ERs to inquire if they treat Yersinia Pestis in dogs. Yes, because that's the kind of person I am--I see a dead rodent, I think bubonic plague outbreak.]

My next concern was bird flu. I wasn't sure what the protocol was for reporting a dead bird, so I asked a policeman. He said I should talk to the store owners in the area since they're the ones responsible for maintaining the sidewalks, and ask them to call 311 (the number for city government information and non-emergency services). Since the stores were closed, I decided to call 311 myself. I shouldn't have done that.

I spoke with Maurice and informed him of the location of the dead bird, and, more importantly, the need for the Health Department (actually, it's the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, or DOHMH) to came and collect the bird and test it for bird flu.

First bombshell, there's a rule that says that the dead body cannot be removed for TWO days after the report is made. I asked Maurice for the rationale behind this let's-just-leave-a-carcass-on-the-sidewalk-for-a-bit rule, but he just kept repeating that that's what it says in the instructions.

Second bombshell, Maurice, still reading form his script, assured me that, once the DOHMH collects the dead bird, they will test if for West Nile Virus (WNV). Um, WNV??? I made sure to point out that WNV and bird flu are two different things, and that it's paramount the bird be tested for the latter. No can do! The script said that, and I paraphrase, bird flu hasn't been detected in the U.S., and to rest assured that the DOHMH is monitoring the situation. [By means other than testing dead birds, that is. Maybe they can tell if a bird is infected via ESP.]

To sum up: Dead bird on sidewalk in the middle of the city; must be left in place for 2 days after it's reported to 311; the DOHMH only tests dead birds for WNV, not bird flu. Brilliant, and most reassuring!

Since I kept insisting that the dead bird needs to be tested for bird flu, not WNV, Maurice couldn't process my report. All he could do was to transfer me to the Department of Sanitation who took the information on the bird location, and promised to have a crew remove and discard it. [My report number is 2006ML9303630.]

I did ask Maurice to give me the number/ID for the 2-day rule and the no bird flu testing regulations so that I may read up on them. He didn't have that information, only, and I quote, "a set of rules from the DOHMH".

I went searching on the DOHMH's site, and look what I found about reporting dead birds (emphasis mine):

If I see a dead bird in New York City, should I report it?

Dead birds can be reported to 311 during West Nile virus season (which runs from May 1 through October 31 each year). While individual dead birds may be collected and tested for WNV, a smaller proportion of those birds may also be tested for avian influenza. Year round, the DOHMH will work with other city, state and federal agencies and partners to investigate clusters of dead birds that are reported in New York City.

H5N1, the strain of bird flu causing bird illness overseas has not been found in birds or humans in New York City, or anywhere in the western hemisphere at this time. Federal and state agriculture agencies are monitoring poultry and migratory birds for avian influenza. DOHMH is working closely with these agencies so that H5N1 avian flu could be detected quickly if it appeared in New York City.

So, the DOHMH does indeed test for bird flu. Unfortunately, it neglected to include that crucial piece of information in the set of rules handed out to 311 operators. Since the script Maurice was basing his triage decisions on contained the incorrect information, the DOHMH will never find out about my dead bird report.

Which brings me to the grandiose and nebulous declarations that the DOHMH will work with other city, state and federal agencies and partners to investigate clusters of dead birds that are reported in New York City and DOHMH is working closely with these agencies so that H5N1 avian flu could be detected quickly if it appeared in New York City. You don't say.

How exactly is the DOHMH working to investigate these reports? What are the specifics? Shouldn't the first priority be to insure that field reports of dead birds, you know, reach the DOHMH? Of the $2,466,271 Pandemic Influenza federal funding allocated to the City in phase 1 for FY 2006, how much was spent to insure that people like Maurice, the 311 operator, are properly instructed on how to process reports of potentially infected birds? [So far, based on my experience, I would venture to guess not a penny.]

I've never been one to place much trust in government bureaucrats, but even I find this level of incompetence (disinterest?) stunning. An inadequate reporting mechanism, coupled with an inexplicable rule designed to maximize the risk of contamination--the perfect strategy to combat a potential pandemic.

Washington Post Article

TWTP gets a mention in The Washington Post [scheme for world domination proceeding according to plan].

Call Me A Sexist If You Must

But I think certain activities should be off limits to the other sex. Like, for example, applying makeup in the car. Just saw the most ordinary looking man, in the most ordinary minivan, applying poudre from a compact while waiting at a red light. I don't think so! [Yes, he could've been an actor, but he was driving away form the theater district.]

Washington Post Article: Reader Stories

January Payne, health reporter for The Washington Post, is working on a story about the increasing trend of women using birth control pills to eliminate, shorten and reduce the frequency of their monthly periods. If you're interested in speaking with her about this topic, please contact her at paynej at washpost dot com. Thank you.

To My Readers: Thank You!

I just heard from the reporter and I want to thank everybody who contacted her. [She promised to update me about the article, and I'll let you know.]

It goes without saying that I have the bestest (and beautifulest) readers around, but you guys went above and beyond! Seriously, thank you to all of my readers; I appreciate it.

To My Female Readers

I've been contacted by a reporter who'd like to interview female readers of my blog--I'd like to profile a woman who either asked you a question/ read a post---anything related to reading your blog that had a positive impact on their life. [Please, like reading my blog could have anything but a wondrous impact, muwahahaha.] I would appreciate it if you could contact her and share your impressions about my blog. Thank you in advance, and here's her email: Janenemascarella at aol dot com.

I'm going to leave this at the top for a bit, so scroll down for the latest posts.

I Am Not Fifi...More of a Mimi

First, let me thank all the people who linked to the NIH post.

Second, let me also say that, of all my posts, I cannot believe that the one that gets linked by all these luminaries is one in which I refer to myself as Fifi. [Can you say "mortified"?]

For the record, people, I assure you that in real life I am a most restrained person, and I seldom, if ever, never call myself French names when discussing medical matters.

Reflections of an Almost Nonvoter

Today is election day and I almost didn't cast my vote. I have never abstained before, but this year I simply didn't think I had a choice. Voting for the current Mayor was out of the question. [Infringing on private property rights and infantilizing adults are deal breakers for me.] And so was voting for the leading opponent. [Too "here's a problem, let's throw a few billions at it", and "it's for the children" for my taste.]

Because I was very uncomfortable with my decision not to vote, I forced myself to read the entire voter guide for my district. I had to make sure not voting was my one and only option.

Long story short, I am happy to report that not only have I just returned from my polling site, but I also managed to vote for a mayoral candidate I find most acceptable.

Jury Duty

I just found out that the book draft is due 3 days earlier than I thought (I **** at math). Bien sure, my first thought was: the world is coming to an end. Followed immediately by: who could blame me for taking a moment to blog before Armageddon. So, in the spirit of desperate days ahead, allow me to indulge in a quick personal-story post.

A few years back when I was a resident, I was called for jury duty. At that time I had no interest in anything that happened outside the hospital, so having to take a day off was, to put it delicately, a mild annoyance. Even so, I must admit I did feel a slight civic pride twinge deep down inside. After all, I was going to perform an important and valuable public service.

I won't bore you with a description of the countless hours spent waiting. Suffice it to say, I was picked to be picked (that's right; efficiency isn't the court's best friend) to serve on a jury. The trial involved a suit brought against a physician and a medical device manufacturer. This is what happened next. About 20 (I don't remember the exact number) of us went into a courtroom. There was a Judge, a defense and a prosecution attorney, and a bailiff (? not sure this is the exact title). All our names were put in a small box, and the bailiff picked (lottery-style) one name at a time. When your name was called, you had to get up and go sit in a separate area of the room, and answer a few questions from both lawyers: name, occupation, educational history, do you own any stock options (?), did you ever file a malpractice suit, and last but not least, can you be 100% sure you'll make the right decision if you are selected to serve.

Since I was the last one picked, I had the opportunity to observe the process. It took maybe 4 or 5 people for me to notice a pattern. The more educated the person, the higher the likelihood that she/he would be excused. The more realistic/philosophical the answer given to the "can you be 100% sure" question, the higher the likelihood that you wouldn't be picked. Mind you, both lawyers were doing this, not just the defense one.

When it was my turn, all I managed to say was my name, and what I did for a living. The nanosecond the lawyers heard I was a resident, they stopped the proceeding, stormed out, came back, and asked (in unison) the Judge to kick me out. In case you think I suffer from some type of persecution complex--afterwards, most of the other jurors approached me, expressed sympathy, and told me how bad they felt about the way I was treated.

Well, any civic pride twinges I might have had up to that point were gone. Not only that, but I was mad. First, I had to miss a day in the hospital. (The one day, might I add, when we had a patient with spontaneous uterine rupture. Do you know how rare an event that is? I'll tell you: it's a once-in-a-lifetime event. And I missed it!) Second, I had to wait a billion hours, only to be summarily dismissed just because I was a resident. That's discrimination based on my profession. And it's also idiotic (yes, I'm still mad to this day)--if I'm not the peer (as in "a jury of your peers") of a physician, then who is? Also, quite intriguingly now that I think of it, whose peer am I exactly--a mathematician's, a miner's, an artist's (in case you're wondering, three professions I know nothing about and am in no way qualified to judge)?

I did go to the Judge and I did tell her, in no uncertain terms, what I thought of the whole process of jury selection. I also asked her to provide me with a definition of "jury of your peers". I must say, she was very nice and patient with me. She somewhat agreed with me that the lawyers were gaming the system. I didn't get a definition, but she was gracious enough to offer an explanation of why I couldn't be on a jury in a medical trial. Something to do with the fact that they didn't want medical facts not in evidence to pop up in jury deliberations. (Of course, I don't agree. First, this trial was about some type of cardiac stent, not my area of medical expertise. Second, our professions, interests, and experiences define who we are as people. What if one of the selected jurors worked as a janitor, but was very mechanically inclined, and an avid reader of health information. He could bring a lot of information about stents and, say, blood flow, into the jury room.) The Judge even apologized for my bad experience. I did appreciate that, since it wasn't her fault; it's the system (no, really).

The bottom line: I have seen how the system works (the way the sausage is made and all that), and I have lost faith. Today, I received a jury duty notice. My reaction: sadness and contempt.