I'm Sorry but if you Don't Believe in Evolution then I'll Think You Are Stupid

Sarah Palin may be young, charismatic, and beautiful, but she's also very stupid.

'Creation science' enters the race

GOVERNOR: Palin is only candidate to suggest it should be discussed in schools.

By TOM KIZZIA
Anchorage Daily News

Published: October 27, 2006
Last Modified: October 30, 2006 at 09:40 AM

The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor's race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state's public classrooms.

Through the Eyes of Others

In their wisdom, UCSF OASIS implemented a password expiration scheme. I think that their particular approach was less than optimal (my outraged voicemails included the word "incompetent"). As a result I was locked out from my account for the entire weekend.

As I was excoriating the support manager for this result, my wife comes down to tell me that she hoped that no human was at the other end of the phone line. If it was, she hoped I never, ever needed something from that person again. That brought my righteous indignation crashing back to earth fairly abruptly.

Feeling Ripped Off?

Which, if any of these, make you feel cheated or do you just think that you win some and lose some?

1. We took our small dog to the vet to see if there was anything to do for her cancer to ease the discomfort or if we needed to put her to sleep right then. The vet charged $150 for blood work and cytology to determine that it was cancer. BUT we knew that before we got there.

2. USAir charges for water on their flights. They won't give you ice. They won't give water to a mother to mix formula and they won't give it to you to swallow a pill. They actually try to say that their goal is to give their customers choices.

3. John Edwards runs for President in the primaries and solicits contributions, then loses. It turns out if he would have won that he would have forfeited the general due to his marital affair.

4. Your server at a restaurant recommends the signature dish (a more expensive one than you would have got otherwise, but you decide to splurge). It turns out to be terrible.

Any others? Add to comments.

Think It Will Work with My Wife

Everyone knows that pharmacists are this country's most trusted profession. (I won't even link because you trust me, right?) So I think I ought to adopt McCain's attitude whenever anyone challenges me.

Nicolle Wallace in the NYT: "The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous."

Let me try it out:

The insinuation that I didn't clean the toilets like I promised to, me, a student pharmacist, not fulfilling my housekeeping obligations is outrageous.

Needs work.

Who are You?

With all due respect to the Who, the question arose for me while thinking about the Angry Porfessor's post about sexism. If you are a certain way then how much should you change to fit in, be successful, or make friends. Should a woman become more pushy at the risk of being called a b*tch? Should Democrats become more sleazy to win elections? What changes should I make in myself? Should I become more serious at the risk of being a killjoy? Should I be more focussed at the risk of being less open to serendipity? Should I be less abrasive at the risk of suffering fools?

I really don't know the answers for myself so I understand those who think the world can be cruel and imperfect, but I don't know whether when the right answer is to try to change the world or when the right thing to do is to change yourself.

No Cigarette Sales for You

San Francisco has amended its health code to ban the sale of cigarettes in pharmacies. This action which, if voluntary, on the part of the pharmacist/pharmacy might be admirable is ridiculous as an ordinance. Cigarettes will still be for sale in numerous outlets; an exemption was made for certain retailers that had pharmacies located within them such as Safeway; and warehouse stores are also exempted. The UCSF pharmacists and student pharmacists who overwhelmingly support this measure are, in my opinion, going for form over substance. Their desire to reduce smoking is admirable, but this ordinance does little in that regard. In addition, the ethical dilemma that is cited is minimal especially when you consider that many (most?) of the tobacco sales at pharmacies do not occur in conjunction with a pharmaceutical sale.