Random non-pathology and only peripherally related to pathology thread

[drPLUM]

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Increasing interest rates suck big time.

 

[yaah]

Yeah. Stock market is in the tank too, not entirely sure why.

Seems like: Higher prices and more employment = likely inflation and thus raised interest rates. Market down. Less employment and stagnating purchases = poor economy = market down.

 

[drPLUM]

I know that in general the market goes up over the long term but its hard not to look at the immediate downturn. It seems like there is always a reason for the market to be down but somehow over 10 years or so it is up for the overall period.

As for interest rates on mortgages, 3-4 years ago rates were so low that people were getting roughly 20-30K more house than I am for the same monthly payment (as far as I can tell from my nonscientific survey). 👎
Sure doesn't make it easy for buyers on a tight budget (i.e. residents). In my town where my school is, the PGY-4's and PGY-5's live in nice neighborhoods close to the hospital in houses that have appreciated like crazy while the PGY1's are living far away and are stuck with a horrible commute. Just shows you how things have changed in the last few years.

 

[beary]

I live in Ann Arbor now. I really like my new house.

 

[deschutes]

Awesome! I love setting up house 🙂 when you have the money 😀

The first long weekend since February... the first long weekend of spring... I finally understand why Memorial Day Weekend is the institution that it is. The word "weekend" is of paramount importance.

I asked why there were two memorial days for war heroes (Veterans' Day and Memorial Day). Apparently one is for the dead and one is for the living?

 

[yaah]

I live in Ann Arbor now. I really like my new house.

I just got home from visiting parents and it is like 95 ****ing degrees. What is this?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I live in Ann Arbor now. I really like my new house.

Cool beans.

Yeah, I'm actually flying out there next week. Straight to Dominick's from the airport! Let the drinkin' begin!

 

[beary]

I just got home from visiting parents and it is like 95 ****ing degrees. What is this?

I know - it totally sucks. I have a very nice screened in porch that looks out on a pond and it is too hot to sit out there. 😡

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I just got home from visiting parents and it is like 95 ****ing degrees. What is this?

I just got back from Louisville and it was 97 degrees there! It's significantly cooler here 🙂

 

[beary]

Cool beans.

Yeah, I'm actually flying out there next week. Straight to Dominick's from the airport! Let the drinkin' begin!

You wanna meet up somewhere while you're here?

I ate at Palio's last night. Very good. And got a Zingerman's sandwich for lunch. Also very good.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

You wanna meet up somewhere while you're here?

I ate at Palio's last night. Very good. And got a Zingerman's sandwich for lunch. Also very good.

Yeah, come to Dominick's! Bring yaah along too.

 

[yaah]

Yeah, come to Dominick's! Bring yaah along too.

When?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

When?

Not this coming weekend but I'll be in town next Thursday through Saturday. As of now, the tentative plans are to go to Dom's Thursday afternoon and evening. Depending on how sloshed we are, we may migrate elsewhere after Dom's closes down at 10 pm.

 

[Leukocyte]

This is a random thread, I take it? OK, I just saw the first season of scrubs for the first time (rented it). I noticed that in one of the episodes, they demonized the Hematopathologist. They made hematopathologists look like blood thursty monsters who devour anyone they meet! I was confused. Why did they get that idea?!

 

[yaah]

This is a random thread, I take it? OK, I just saw the first season of scrubs for the first time (rented it). I noticed that in one of the episodes, they demonized the Hematopathologist. They made hematopathologists look like blood thursty monsters who devour anyone they meet! I was confused. Why did they get that idea?!

Most hematopathologists actually subsist on a steady diet of bone marrow, actually, so you could call them blood thirsty monsters. Bone marrow is very nutritious. I guess you kind of acquire a taste for it around about your third rotation through heme path.

I think Scrubs demonizes them just because they can, and they make an easy target. When someone is out of sight, you can do such things. That's why surgeons badmouth medicine, medicine badmouths surgery, everyone badmouths ER, etc.

 

[deschutes]

Is it true that most of the places of interest in DC are closed on weekends? 🙁 Please tell me I have been misinformed!

 

[Aubrey]

Is it true that most of the places of interest in DC are closed on weekends? 🙁 Please tell me I have been misinformed!

You have been misinformed! Museums, galleries, bars, etc. will most definitely be open weekends post-Memorial day.

 

[deschutes]

I was going to make a trip at some point during the summer to DC, perhaps even more than one since it seems an awful lot to take in just on a weekend - at this point I don't have any real idea of what I want to see apart from the Smithsonian museums and the White House.

The Guy is like "why would you want to see the White House?", so he's going to be no help in planning my itinerary. I'm not asking that you do it for me, but - any recommendations?

I heard Teaism has got good sushi 🙂

 

[bananaface]

My b/f used to live there. I'll ask for some recommendations.

 

[deschutes]

I did not know that you have to call 911 and not your local police station to break up a 3am noisy backyard party in your neighbourhood.

 

[yaah]

I got woken up at 4:30 or so because there was a research autopsy (that needs to be done right away after the patient dies so they can get fresh tissue) and the person who agreed to do it wasn't answering pages. Turns out I went in and the family had second thoughts (after signing the permit) about it so I came back home.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Driving through New Jersey with windows open = bad idea.
The state smells like poo.

 

[beary]

I did not know that you have to call 911 and not your local police station to break up a 3am noisy backyard party in your neighbourhood.

Those parties are an emergency!! 🙄

 

[deschutes]

Those parties are an emergency!! 🙄

Well that was what I thought. I felt like I was being one of those patients who turns up at Emerg at 3am because of a cold, instead of waiting to see a family doc the next day.

Dispatch: Boys, there's a Disturbance Of The Peace down by the river.
(groans all around)
Policeman A: I did the last DOTP that came in.
Policeman B: Dave, I guess we're up.
*Policeman B and Dave amble out, coffee in hand*

 

[Aubrey]

I was going to make a trip at some point during the summer to DC, perhaps even more than one since it seems an awful lot to take in just on a weekend - at this point I don't have any real idea of what I want to see apart from the Smithsonian museums and the White House.

The Guy is like "why would you want to see the White House?", so he's going to be no help in planning my itinerary. I'm not asking that you do it for me, but - any recommendations?

I heard Teaism has got good sushi 🙂

My recs for what they're worth: at the Smithsonian, avoid the huge crowds at the Natural History and Air & Space, go to the Sackler and Freer galleries and see some truly excellent Asian art. Also, the National Archives are pretty cool. If you have time, the National Zoo is close to the Metro and a number of great restaurants (Lebanese Taverna!). The Adams-Morgan neighborhood has good restaurants and bars if you want to just amble about. The National Gallery of Art is not technically part of the Smithsonian, but is right next door and is well worth the time. The cafe in the basement makes kick-ass gelato that is excellent on a hot summer day.

Have fun!

 

[deschutes]

My recs for what they're worth:

Awesome, thanks!

The odd thing is, seeing Asian art in the setting of a white country (be it North America or Europe) is always a bit of a surreal experience for me: I was visiting the Mpls Institute of Art, and there in a glass display was - my grandma's ceramic camel 😱

I'm just sayin' 😛

Is the Space part of Air and Space a separate or semi-separate exhibition?

 

[Aubrey]

Is the Space part of Air and Space a separate or semi-separate exhibition?

It's all together. They did open a branch museum out near Dulles airport, to show off all the planes they keep collecting.

 

[deschutes]

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 😀

I finally solved a mystery that has dogged me since childhood: "What is this thing, the American graham cracker?"

But nothing else in my microwave has ever alarmed me as much as:

 

[yaah]

What do they call graham crackers where you were?

 

[deschutes]

The food item it resembles the most is the Digestive biscuit - sometimes used crushed to make cheesecake bottoms and pie shells. It sometimes comes chocolate-dipped on one face 👍

I was told that the original graham cracker (nothing like what we eat today) was conceived of to suppress carnal urges 🙂

 

[Supersheep]

I was told that the original graham cracker (nothing like what we eat today) was conceived of to suppress carnal urges 🙂

Yeah, and so were Corn Flakes I believe... (although their mascot may tell otherwise??) 😉

 

[deschutes]

OK so you know that famous polarized gouty tophus of yaah's?
The Advanced Search function is down so I can't use my mad Search skillz to pull up the original post.

I was looking at an H&E of a tophus today and polarized it and saw - NO crystals. Bummer.

Attending comes along and rattles off something about regular tissue processing dissolving the MSU crystals and you need special processing (i.e. alcohol) to preserve them.

Ta-DAAH! Once again deschutes is the last person on earth to find out... 🙄

 

[yaah]

Interestingly though, the one I have was temporarily fixed in formalin. It was from an amputated digit that had a huge gouty tophus in the DIP joint. I got to it after a couple of hours and realized it was for gout, so I cut through the center and fixed that part in formalin.

Here:

I am getting bombed with Whipples and total colectomies for UC and c-diff colitis this week. Will see if I can get some pictures later on.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I am getting bombed with Whipples and total colectomies for UC and c-diff colitis this week. Will see if I can get some pictures later on.

Oh aren't Whipples fun? *wink wink* I dunno...it seems that every Whipple specimen for cancer are different in their own way. Kinda challenging...there always seem to be a unique twist to every one of those specimens.

Total colectomies for UC aren't too bad. The lymph nodes, especially, are much easier to find...they pop out pretty easily, at least in my limited experience.

 

[yaah]

They're not bad except they can be messy.

The whipple I got today was pretty much completely sliced up (without ink) by the OR. I guess they wanted tissue for research, I dunno. I hate when they slice it up in the OR, it ruins things a lot of the time and hampers grossing. I think if I ever need surgery I am going to demand that only the pathologist open the specimen.

 

[deschutes]

I got three autopsies yesterday. We started the third one at 7pm ("Can you do this today? It's for cultural burial reasons." And yet the mortician only collected the body this morning). Thankfully it was "heart only" on a 2-month-old.

The chart for this 2-month-old made a pile as tall as my knee from the ground.

The good part is: 6 down, 44 more to go!

 

[deschutes]

I think if I ever need surgery I am going to demand that only the pathologist open the specimen.

I think if I ever need a lumpectomy I am going to demand that the only the surgeon ink the specimen.

 

[yaah]

I think if I ever need a lumpectomy I am going to demand that the only the surgeon ink the specimen.

There was a surgeon where I went to med school who did that and it was great. Here, we just get three sutures hanging off of a fragmented piece of fat, sometimes with geometrically impossible relationships. "Deep" is directly opposite from "Superior," and "Inferior" is between them.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I think if I ever need a lumpectomy I am going to demand that the only the surgeon ink the specimen.

I love the 1 cm breast excisions where the surgeon wants it six-inked. It's like, "What would you do if a margin was positive?"

 

[deschutes]

Holy effin cow I just got invited to be a bridesmaid! 😱

 

[bananaface]

Holy effin cow I just got invited to be a bridesmaid! 😱

I wonder if anyone actually has fun doing that. My guess is no.

 

[beary]

I wonder if anyone actually has fun doing that. My guess is no.

Negative here. If I ever get married I actually don't think I will have any bridesmaids.

Welcome back banana! 🙂

 

[beary]

Hey yaah or Andy - any suggestions where a girl can get her hair cut in Ann Arbor? I need one badly.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Hey yaah or Andy - any suggestions where a girl can get her hair cut in Ann Arbor? I need one badly.

You know...I never found a barber I was totally happy with. I settled for King's Men barber on Plymouth (it's near the Kroger) but that was hit or miss. There is also a barber in Nickel's arcade (the entrance is on State St...near the Red Hawk). They do a decent job as well but one of the barbers there really sucks. So again, hit or miss.

There's also a Supercuts near State St. as well but I'm not fond of Supercuts.

 

[bananaface]

Negative here. If I ever get married I actually don't think I will have any bridesmaids.

Welcome back banana! 🙂

Thanks 🙂

I wonder why most people decide to have bridesmaids. Most of the time I think they feel obligated to ask certain parties and don't question the necessity of the role. Or, they can't fathom pictures without a huge ass wedding party. It's good to have someone to take care of snafoos for you. But, if someone is your good friend they will do that anyway.

 

[bananaface]

You know...I never found a barber I was totally happy with. I settled for King's Men barber on Plymouth (it's near the Kroger) but that was hit or miss. There is also a barber in Nickel's arcade (the entrance is on State St...near the Red Hawk). They do a decent job as well but one of the barbers there really sucks. So again, hit or miss.

There's also a Supercuts near State St. as well but I'm not fond of Supercuts.

Do barber shops do women's (non-butch) haircuts? 😕

 

[yaah]

You know...I never found a barber I was totally happy with. I settled for King's Men barber on Plymouth (it's near the Kroger) but that was hit or miss. There is also a barber in Nickel's arcade (the entrance is on State St...near the Red Hawk). They do a decent job as well but one of the barbers there really sucks. So again, hit or miss.

There's also a Supercuts near State St. as well but I'm not fond of Supercuts.

I usually go to the arcade barbers. I think the crap barber has left, but they recently changed their hours and have a few new people. The reason I like it is they have non-trad barber shop hours (i.e. open at 7am, saturday at 9am).

I went to some place on stadium but that was like $20 and I am not paying $20 plus tip for a haircut.

 

[Supersheep]

Hey yaah or Andy - any suggestions where a girl can get her hair cut in Ann Arbor? I need one badly.

Just in case you're still looking... You might try the Douglas J eXchange http://douglasj.seal-server.com/exchange_aa.html

They have different levels of stylists with different prices for service... plus the tip is "included" in the price which I always liked. Sorry, I haven't been to the Ann Arbor one, but got my hair cut at their East Lansing/Okemos locations for 8 years. HTH 🙂

 

[beary]

Just in case you're still looking... You might try the Douglas J eXchange http://douglasj.seal-server.com/exchange_aa.html

They have different levels of stylists with different prices for service... plus the tip is "included" in the price which I always liked. Sorry, I haven't been to the Ann Arbor one, but got my hair cut at their East Lansing/Okemos locations for 8 years. HTH 🙂

Thanks for the advice folks! I'm going to stay away from a barbershop since I think they usually do guy's haircuts. Supersheep, that place looks great. I am definitely going to give it a try! 👍

 

[JaneDough]

I am definitely going to give it a try! 👍

They also use Aveda products at those salons 👍
The no tip thing is also very nice