Blog Reflection

What are you most proud of on your blog? Why?
Friday's blogicon went very well for me. I presented my first blog entry on Pfizer and I was able to see everyone else in my group's blog's as well. The freshmen came and talked to us about our blogs as well and I had some very nice conversations with them and their blogging. After a long weekend I came back Tuesday to find that Randy had got the entire class muffins and doughnuts with a "Paper Plate Award." My award said "Best Public Health Service" which I felt made my blog unique. I like to blog about medical science and that award made the time I put into my blog almost worth it. But really it is nice to be commemorated on something of that nature because that was my original intent.

What will you improve during future blogs? Why? How?
I feel that I could improve on content and depth in my blogs. Also if I could find more articles that relate to the topic assigned. Better graphic design would help my blog as well because my blog is very plain. In future blogs I plan on inserting links and articles right into the writing and incorporating more pictures/videos on my blog while still keeping a nice amount of content to the entries. I believe there is a good balance between the writing and aesthetic look to the blog.

How can we better connect our blogs?
I feel that most of the class could probably improve on this topic. If we all connected our blogs better with a personal connection. If we could link our blogs to other blogs on the same topic or mention what other students have put in our blogs would be connected. We could also blog on opposing viewpoints as well. Or if we are comfortable with our writing and all the other aspects would could have an aesthetically pleasing looking blog that would somehow connect with everyone elses (Color schemes, layouts, etc.)

'Obama Nation' full of half truths and lies

This New York Times bestselling book by Jerome Corsi is a book with the sole purpose to slander senator Barack Obama. Although this would be acceptable if Corsi had received credible and legitimate evidence some of his cites range from opinion colomns to anonymous blogs. Some of Corsi's claims are that Obama could propose that he was a citizen of Kenya or that he has yet to anwser questions about his teenage drug use. Claims such as these and others are proven false with evidence from reliable sources.
The other day when I was with my friends I happened to run into this book. The title and headline actually made me laugh out loud. "The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality." I didn't think much of it as I walked past the book store while ingesting a 2 dollar bottle of green tea which was probably only worth fifty cents. I think if one is willing to try and argue they should at least get their facts straight. I can see the importance of checking credible sources and that using reliable evidence is the best way to get your point across.

Factcheck.org

Corsi's Dull Hatchet

September 15, 2008
Original Article

Government and the Stock Market

Recently there has a been a crisis in the stock market. Two banks declared bankruptcy the other day and now market is dipping and gyrating. During class we were given an assignment to say whether or not we think the government should step in or not. I believe that the stock market should be an open market. If the government gives money to one corporation then what is stopping others from asking for money. GM is now asking for money to help fund alternative fuel projects. America is a capitalist country and I believe that the market should remain open. The stock market has a tendency to fluctuate and I believe everything will work itself out in due time.

G.M. and Ford Officials Seeking U.S. Loans to Meet Fuel Goal New York Times

By BILL VLASIC

Published: September 16, 2008
Original Article

Doctor's receive bonus for administering antibiotics

A new program called "Pay for Performance" which rewards doctor's for administering antibiotic drugs in a timely manner may be unhealthy.

"But he did not appear to have pneumonia or any other infection. He had no fever. His white blood cell count was normal, and he wasn’t coughing up sputum. His chest X-ray did show a vague marking, but that was probably just fluid in the lungs from heart failure.

I ordered the antibiotic stopped — but not in time to prevent the patient from developing a severe diarrheal infection called C. difficile colitis, often caused by antibiotics. He became dehydrated. His temperature spiked to alarming levels. His white blood cell count almost tripled. In the end, with different antibiotics, the infection was brought under control, but not before the patient had spent almost two weeks in the hospital."

You can see here how administering antibiotics when they are not nessecary can be very harmful on patients. Doctor's get pay bonuses though and can administer these substances to those who it would have little to no effect on. It is unhealthy to take antibiotics unless an infection is present. Antibiotic use can also lead to other complications. I feel that everyone should be entitled to free medical free from the tyranny of hospital fees. Doctors are able to "Cherry-Pick" patients and cause their medical fee to go up. This reminds me of John Locke when he said that people should be born with certain rights. I feel everyone should have medical care. Also I believe that it is wrong for Doctor's to knowingly perscribe these substances to patients if they know their are no real positives. It almost goes against the hippocratic oath.

New York Times

"The Pitfalls of Linking Doctors’ Pay to Performance"

By SANDEEP JAUHAR, M.D

Published: September 8, 2008

Original Article

California legalizes gay marriage (Anti-Fed/Fed)

California has recently released the ban on same sex marriage. Same sex marriage is an issue that is very controversial and is one of the key topics in elections. John McCain believes that marriage between a man and women should be regulated by the state. This is viewed as an Anti-Federalist emotion. Anti-Federalists want laws and other things to be governed by the state where as Federalists want things to be governed by the country. California legalizing gay marriage is a perfect example of an anti federalist movement. Gay marriage is not legal in all states. I do think that if a same sex couple really does want to elope then they will travel to a country where it is legal to do so therefore defeating the purpose of governing marriage by state.

New York Times
"California Court Affirms Right To Gay Marriage"
By ADAM LIPTAK

Published: May 16, 2008

Original Article

Infidelity in Ukraine (Enlightenment)

In the 2004 Ukraine presidential election votes were stolen from candidate Viktor Yushchenko is order to put Viktor Yanukovich ahead of the polls. This eventually became known to the public and thousands gathered in 'Kiev' square to protest the atrocities. Votes were recounted despite several threats made to the supreme court and Yushchenko came out the clear winner. Now 4 years later "The president of Ukraine, Viktor A. Yushchenko, asserted that he was the victim of a “political and constitutional coup” carried out by his ally, Prime Minister Yulia V. Tymoshenko, and threatened to call for early parliamentary elections." One of the points of interest in Enlightenment was that the government would not hide things from it's people and tell them everything. Ukraine has been very sketchy in the sense of revealing/hiding information from it's people.

New York Times
Ukraine Government New Collapse

By CLIFFORD J. LEVY

Published: September 3, 2008

Original Article

Pfizer pays $725 Million for experimental drug (Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness)

Pfizer said that it was acquiring the rights to a new experimental substance aimed to help Alzheimer's disease. The substance (Pictured Above) is Dimebolin, a antihistamine that works on the AMPA/NMDA receptors. It has show positive results in Russia for Mild/Moderate stage patients of Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting brain cell death in preclinical studies of Alzheimer's. Pfizer has caught on to this new experimental pharmaceutical and is wishing to aquire a license on it. Pfizer will assume 60 percent of the development costs and take in 60 percent of the profits. I believe that Pfizer is more concerned with these experimental substances not to help those with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia but from a buisiness standpoint. As John Locke said everyone should have their own human rights. I think if a drug like this exists in the world then it should be readily available and something like "aquiring the rights" or finding out the percent of profit the company will make should be irrelevant.

New York Times

Pfizer Acquires Rights to Alzheimer's Drug
By REUTERS

Published: September 3, 2008

Original Article