tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72364603154285552842024-03-14T18:40:43.147+11:00Dr DorkDr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-45879422513419654252015-09-26T02:09:00.001+10:002015-09-26T02:09:31.706+10:00Wominjeka. Thank you for visiting. <br />
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<img class="full-image" height="267" id="full-image-high-res" src="https://s17-us2.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jwz.org%2Fimages%2Femilio-garcias-jumping-brain-goes-xl.jpg&sp=991a2907845a40c3ee744a0fae30d551" style="display: block; height: 268px; opacity: 1; width: 359px;" /><br />
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A dork lingers...is content. One <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/index.html">thinks</a>. Who <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/">knows</a>?<br />
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A dork hopes you are well.<br />
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Back to the shade.<br />
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<img alt="File:Man sitting in the shade J1.jpg" data-file-height="2513" data-file-width="3668" height="273" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Man_sitting_in_the_shade_J1.jpg/800px-Man_sitting_in_the_shade_J1.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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Take care.<br />
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Be kind.<br />
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<br />Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-71903842277648631432011-12-31T23:59:00.002+11:002011-12-31T23:59:00.153+11:00The Dork Abides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N6K_EPuNouM/Te6yV_J8FmI/AAAAAAAAAp4/EO53zb4Wzv0/s1600/lebowski42ov0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N6K_EPuNouM/Te6yV_J8FmI/AAAAAAAAAp4/EO53zb4Wzv0/s320/lebowski42ov0.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Both his followers will be surprised to discover that Dr Dork is stirring, occasionally spinning, restless in his unquiet tomb.<br />
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The medical 'blogosphere' (or however the current version is named) has changed much. The landscape has been remodelled, roads rerouted, and the forest has reclaimed some once-bustling towns.<br />
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Such is the nature of growth, and life cannot exist without change.<br />
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All manner of things have changed for Dr Dork since he reflected on the <a href="http://drdork.blogspot.com/2007/09/not-drowning-waving.html">senescence of his blog</a> in 2007.<br />
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Dr Dork has stepped away from clinical medicine at a relatively young age, a move which was necessary but nonetheless a little saddening for him. He is these days combining his professional and personal experiences of recovery from a ''<a href="http://drdork.blogspot.com/2007/01/doctor-as-patient-ii-depression.html">mental</a> <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001923/">illness</a> <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001940/">triumvirate</a>" in roles that he feels will benefit others stumbling along similar paths.<br />
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If it helps but one other, it is worth the effort.<br />
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Today Dr Dork reflects on his reflecting upon his reflections and gets dizzy.<br />
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Time for a sit down and a cup of tea.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vyk1eBCkwrA/TfAjBRhVlPI/AAAAAAAAAqA/nf5N-Z9INt0/s1600/800px-Nice_Cup_of_Tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vyk1eBCkwrA/TfAjBRhVlPI/AAAAAAAAAqA/nf5N-Z9INt0/s400/800px-Nice_Cup_of_Tea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-17061687990613200992011-06-24T15:47:00.000+10:002011-06-24T15:47:02.211+10:00Grand RoundsThe prolific psych-blogging juggernaut that is <a href="http://psychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-solstice-hot-grand-rounds-on.html">Shrink Rap</a> hosts the current edition of <a href="http://psychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-solstice-hot-grand-rounds-on.html">Grand Rounds</a>.<br />
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Dr Dork recommends. He <a href="http://drdork.blogspot.com/2007/04/grand-rounds-vol-3-no29.html">recalls</a> the privilege (and dastardly amount of work) involved in hosting grand rounds with ambivalence, and offers an abundance of kudos to Dinah, ClinkShrink and Roy for an informative and entertaining summation of the week in health blogging.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYqVNSuajqY/TgQkk5aprkI/AAAAAAAAAqI/DzHH1BN5Af8/s1600/chiefrounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYqVNSuajqY/TgQkk5aprkI/AAAAAAAAAqI/DzHH1BN5Af8/s320/chiefrounds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-11199815801512791982010-07-11T12:56:00.001+10:002011-04-27T11:07:41.161+10:00Reanimation*<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/TDk2S3HITJI/AAAAAAAAAoo/meMRuUh6YQA/s1600/pennyfarthing.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492480918214429842" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/TDk2S3HITJI/AAAAAAAAAoo/meMRuUh6YQA/s320/pennyfarthing.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 246px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Hello there. It has been a long while.<br />
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Hope you are well and happy.<br />
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This particular Dork is both.<br />
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More to come, in time.<br />
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Silence speaks of things unsaid.<br />
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The wheels are always turning.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;">*Do NOT read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_West%E2%80%93Reanimator">this story</a>. Stay away from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089885/">this disturbed film</a>.</span>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-23305392163447030292008-05-24T14:55:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.596+10:00Just Checking InDr Dork has been on an extended sojourn, but hasn't fallen off the face of the earth quite yet.<br /><br />You have been warned, previously, that this blog is itinerant at best.<br /><br />Kind regards to fellow travellers upon unsettled seas.<br /><br />DorkDr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-77463289869864608432007-09-26T20:52:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.584+10:00Not Drowning, Waving<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rvpm5JuerQI/AAAAAAAAAc0/nvXBrN4ZKP8/s1600-h/wwwnewpantagruelcomissues11farkasbear.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rvpm5JuerQI/AAAAAAAAAc0/nvXBrN4ZKP8/s400/wwwnewpantagruelcomissues11farkasbear.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114513458882063618" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't posted anything for a long time, so please bear with me.<br /><br />I'm not even going to pretend any pertinence to clinical medicine, nor any forays into Dorksome jocularity. I shall refrain from the third person self-referencing for a change, as well.<br /><br />Firstly, an apology to all my intertubes comrades, friends and acquaintances, who felt excluded by this blog 'going all private'. With my rudimentary understanding of Blogger, my decision to close the blog in May seemed to present only two options - make it "private", or delete it completely, which I wasn't quite prepared to do.<br /><br />I have eschewed my <span style="font-style: italic;">dorkdr@gmail</span> address until now, and regret any hurt feelings, as I wade through a great backlog of email tonight, to those who might take umbrage at any perceived exclusion from a "private blog". It was simply easier for me, at the time, to close the blog and avoid the brief flurry of kind email inquiries. The blog was not so much private, as in a state of pre-deletion.<br /><br />I have started lurking about again of late, and note that many other health blogs, some of my favourites included, have shuffled off as well, pro tempore or otherwise. As others have discussed with far more perspicacity, perhaps this is simply the nature of the beast.<br /><br />Why did I vanish ? Let me count the ways...<br /><br />1. Ill health. Improving now.<br /><br />2. Copyright concerns. I have developed further some of the nascent scribblings I occasionally posted, and as posting on Blogger legally counts as "publishing" in most regards. I have had to remove most of my creative work that I am compiling or submitting elsewhere, unfortunately.<br /><br />3. Privacy. I don't write about my patients in any way that could be potentially identifiable. This is a Hippocratic fundamental, in my opinion. However, I have chosen to bare my personal foibles and failings in this blog. Others have suffered for similar disclosure, possessed of far greater altruism than I. Whilst hosting Grand Rounds was a privilege and a pleasure, the consequent huge surge in site visits was worrisome for me. I much prefer peeping out (and piping up occasionally), snug beneath my warm little rock, to the glare of the hot sun.<br /><br />I am of the opinion that, particularly with my personal spectrum of illness, this fractured window may have been, and still could be, of use to someone, somewhere, sometime. When traversing one's own dark night of the soul, a single kindred spirit is of much value, wherever and however found.<br /><br />So the blog archive is back, in part. Not that there is much of it, in retrospect. At least for now.<br /><br />It is a pleasure to read the words of others, especially those who have lingered long. It is a pleasure to be read.<br /><br />Yours occasionally,<br /><br />DorkDr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-89352410204426196662007-05-04T05:28:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.574+10:00In Absentia<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rjo5_xRFZDI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/h9mRMfYmrNY/s1600-h/tumbleweeds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rjo5_xRFZDI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/h9mRMfYmrNY/s400/tumbleweeds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060420899023709234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Waiting Room<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">Long story short: Dr Dork is on hiatus. For salubrious and salacious medical writing, please explore the <span style="font-style: italic;">blogroll.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rjo6rhRFZEI/AAAAAAAAAcY/SBHZbNkBVr8/s1600-h/disgruntled+patients.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rjo6rhRFZEI/AAAAAAAAAcY/SBHZbNkBVr8/s400/disgruntled+patients.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060421650642986050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Disgruntled patients<br /></span></span></div></div></div>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-73409834245845263632007-04-17T22:54:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.564+10:00Grand Rounds Vol 3, No.30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RiTEJ2R4FEI/AAAAAAAAAcI/g1h8j7BVNFE/s1600-h/chiefrounds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RiTEJ2R4FEI/AAAAAAAAAcI/g1h8j7BVNFE/s400/chiefrounds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054380355284898882" border="0" /></a><a href="http://fatdoctor.blogspot.com/2007/04/grand-rounds-vol-3-no-30.html">Grand Rounds</a> now available at <a href="http://fatdoctor.blogspot.com">Fat Doctors.</a><br /><br />Archives and upcoming schedule <a href="http://blogborygmi.blogspot.com/2004/09/grand-rounds-archive-upcoming-schedule.html">here.</a>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-88816707339418196982007-04-16T19:42:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.626+10:00Another nonsensical bout of self-absorbed whimsyIrrelevant and irreverent descent into mirth and whimsy has been just about the only output from Dr Dork of late.<br /><br />Apart from <a href="http://drdork.blogspot.com/2007/04/grand-rounds-vol-3-no29.html">Grand Rounds</a>, of course - which was not as time-consuming as Dr Dork thought it might be. Dr Dork reads most of the blogs which submitted anyway - his <a href="http://www.bloglines.com/">Bloglines</a> feed count stands at 205...and counting.<br /><br />Dr Dork is perhaps showing his age by divulging his love of cheesy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla">Creature</a> Features. An excellent way to while away a few hours of insomnia.<br /><br />So here we have a Godzilla dancing extravaganza, produced by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=godzilla2damax">Daniel</a>, a 15 year old in San Jose.<br /><br />Don't know the music, but the combination is much fun.<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mGGWgp5_UhQ"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mGGWgp5_UhQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Dr Dork is thinking he will finally bestow a first name on himself, for a trial run.<br /><br />Until next time,<br /><br />Dr Tom F. DorkDr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-89530390447732008882007-04-13T16:01:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.552+10:00The Magick of Iridology<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rh83LWR4FDI/AAAAAAAAAcA/ef2KF69rBrw/s1600-h/owmyeye.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rh83LWR4FDI/AAAAAAAAAcA/ef2KF69rBrw/s400/owmyeye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052817975031632946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mr </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mrmen.com">Odd</a> : My back feels completely fine. But I still see the chiropractor every 3 weeks, of course.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Dr Dork</span>: Of course. Do the wrists give you much trouble after the operations ?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mr O</span>: None at all, doc.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Dr D</span>: Great! Good for you. How has the drinking been going ?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mr O </span>: I drink a bottle and a half each night, but I took out the unhealthy stuff from the mix.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Dr D</span>: Meaning...?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mr O</span>: I saw my <a href="http://your-doctor.com/patient_info/alternative_remedies/various_therapy/fraud_topics/bogus_tests_tx/iridology.html">iridologist</a> just after the operations. He told me to cut down on the Coca-Cola.<br /><br /> Now I mix my bourbon with ice-water.<br /><br /> Only smoke <a href="http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7440/E278">light cigarettes</a> as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Dr D</span>: OK. <span style="font-style: italic;">*takes a sip from diet cola*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mr O</span>: The phosphates in that will kill you, you know...Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-2843808916800794442007-04-10T07:13:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.538+10:00Grand Rounds Vol 3, No.29<div style="text-align: left;">G'day and welcome to this weeks edition of Grand Rounds. Dr Dork is pleased and honoured to host your journey through some highlights of this weeks medical blogging.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhtNQmR4E9I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/ljU6VU6ss3Q/s1600-h/hairy+dork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhtNQmR4E9I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/ljU6VU6ss3Q/s400/hairy+dork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051716354574914514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">No time to shave today</span></span><br /></div></div><br />Dr Dork has elected to follow the early tradition of Grand Rounds, as established and maintained by <a href="http://blogborygmi.blogspot.com/2004/09/grand-rounds-submission-guidelines.html">Nick Genes</a>, venerable beyond his years in this regard. To elucidate, a few posts that have stood out, in this editor's opinion, have been selected for each category, to keep this edition of Grand Rounds to a readable size.<br /><br />There were roughly quadruple the number of submissions for the (arbitrarily) designated size of this edition. Many quality submissions were regrettably left out this week, apologies to all. Dr Dork wouldn't have made the cut himself amongst the field of entries this week.<br /><br />For those with particular preferences and predilections, the 30 selections for this week have been compiled into the following categories:<br /> <br /><ol><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Rants</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">In Practice</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Of Patients and for Patients</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Education</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Research and Advances</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Healthcare Policy and Reform</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Medicine in the Media</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Miscellany and Mirth</span> </li></ol><br />Lastly, <span style="font-style: italic;">In Parting</span>, we have a bittersweet farewell from the greatly admired Barbados Butterfly.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Rants<br /></span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhtQfGR4FCI/AAAAAAAAAb4/3Mp9mYaVKeg/s1600-h/001angryangryman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhtQfGR4FCI/AAAAAAAAAb4/3Mp9mYaVKeg/s400/001angryangryman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051719902217901090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fallen Angels</span> rants on discourtesy in the healthcare blogosphere in <a href="http://safeplacedissociativediologue.blogspot.com/2007/03/doctor-bloggers.html">Doctor Bloggers</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Dino </span>berates the local lawmakers for the misguided enforcement of <a href="http://dinosaurmusings.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmi-measurements-in-schools.html">BMI Measurement in Schools.</a><br /><br />Susan Palwick of <span style="font-style: italic;">Rickety Contrivances of Doing Good</span> (perhaps the tongue-twistiest healthcare blog title) shares her anger at <a href="http://improbableoptimisms.blogspot.com/2007/04/scapegoat.html">observing abusive behaviour</a> towards an ED "frequent flyer".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >In Practice</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Kenneth F. Trofatter</span> discusses the <a href="http://www.healthline.com/blogs/pregnancy_childbirth/2007/04/recurrent-early-pregnancy-loss-9.html">evaluation of Recurrent Early Pregnancy Loss</a> as part of an ongoing series on the topic. An increasing problem, one presumes, as many elect to become parents later and later, it seems.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fat Doctor</span> shares a <a href="http://fatdoctor.blogspot.com/2007/04/moral-dilemma.html">moral dilemma</a> as an overzealous schoolteacher almost berates her into support of developing SuperBugs.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Azygos </span>shares a poignant tale of a patient's death from Multiple Sclerosis, and touches on the dangers of a fragmented care system in <a href="http://spankysplace.blog-city.com/paul.htm">Paul</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Signout</span>, in the midst of a trying cardiology rotation, is touched by the power of a simple gesture of thanks in <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/signout/2007/04/what_were_supposed_to_do.php">What we're supposed to do.</a><br /><br />Dr Shazam of <span style="font-style: italic;">Mr Hassle's Long Underpants </span>(still one of the best blog names, period) shares the electricity, and the enervation, of emergency room codes in <a href="http://www.docshazam.com/2007/04/fallen-star.html">Fallen Star</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Of Patients and For Patients</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Rima Bishara</span> gives a comprehensive summary for parents, examining <a href="http://thedoctorblogger.com/2007/03/25/sports-injuries-in-kids-doctor-blogger.aspx">sports injuries in children. </a><br /><br />Adam of <span style="font-style: italic;">Daylight Atheism</span> gives a <a href="http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/rebuking-the-devil.html">disturbing account</a> of the situation faced by those in the Congo, where a single, lone psychiatrist, Dr Alain Mouanga, struggles to turn the tide of abuse inflicted upon the mentally ill.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Bohemian Road Nurse</span> shares her <a href="http://bohemianknitter.blogspot.com/2007/04/ill-never-wear-lilac-panties-again.html">deeply personal experiences of battling alcoholism</a>, a common affliction throughout the healthcare professions.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">ChronicBabe</span> shares some <a href="http://www.chronicbabe.com/articles/2007/04/10_ways_to_make.php">advice on time management</a> for those struggling with their health...advice which we could all heed, irregardless.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Education</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>The inimitable <span style="font-style: italic;">Orac</span> looks in detail at the subtleties of <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/04/detecting_cancer_early_part_1_more_compl.php">early cancer detection</a>, particularly in regards to <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/04/early_detection_of_cancer_part_2_breast.php">breast cancer</a> in a highly informative two-part post.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Vitum medicinus</span> shares a compendium of <a href="http://blog.vitummedicinus.com/2007/02/people-in-class-that-i-admire.html">people he admires most in his class</a> at medical school. Reminds one of the different paths many of us walk to the same destination. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Research and Advances</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">GrrlScientist </span>identifies a major flaw in the much lauded "<a href="http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2007/04/converting_one_blood_type_to_a.php">treatment" for ABO blood type incompatibility</a> which has been bandied about in recent weeks.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Docinthemachine</span> blogs on new developments in <a href="http://docinthemachine.com/2007/03/28/papstd/">genetic pap smears</a> which could lead us one step closer to eradicating some common STDs.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Domenico Savatta</span> looks at surgical options, including some recent research of his own, in <a href="http://www.njurology.com/RoboticSurgeryBlog/2007/03/do_you_need_to_remove_the_whol.php">treating prostate cancer</a>. Very relevant to us old codgers.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Charles</span> revisits some of Kinseys ground-breaking and controversial work with a <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/drcharles/2007/04/a_brief_sex_survey_kinseystyle.php">"Kinsey-style" sex survey</a> of the health blogosphere. Go on. Be honest!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Healthcare Policy / Reform</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhtPYGR4FAI/AAAAAAAAAbo/L4wuVP1bpTE/s1600-h/001Animalwild-Kangaroos-Fighting.Jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhtPYGR4FAI/AAAAAAAAAbo/L4wuVP1bpTE/s400/001Animalwild-Kangaroos-Fighting.Jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051718682447188994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Australian Parliamentary Debate<br /></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Kevin</span> takes a break from his frenetic link-blogging to give us a thoughtful and considered discussion of the growing problem of <a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/04/defensive-medicine.html">defensive medical practice</a>.<br /><br />Amy at <span style="font-style: italic;">Diabetes Mine</span> previews Michael Moore's much <a href="http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/03/anticipating_si.html">anticipated "sicko"</a> documentary. Even those of us on the other side of the globe will be interested in his take on the American system.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Medicine in the Media</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">N=1 from Universal Health</span> berates the New York Times in <a href="http://universalhealth.wordpress.com/2007/04/09/heart-disease-treatment-and-thrills/">Heart Disease, Treatment and Thrills</a> for a recurring debasement of the nursing role.<br /><br />Kerri at <span style="font-style: italic;">Six Until Me </span>considers from the perspective of a diabetes sufferer the recent macing of a Mr Universe whilst hypoglycaemic in <a href="http://sixuntilme.com/blog1/2007/04/doug_burns_maced.html">Doug Burns, Maced</a> ?<br /><br />Walter at <span style="font-style: italic;">HighlightHealth</span> examines an inflammatory television "investigation" of <a href="http://www.highlighthealth.com/healthcare/pharmacy-errors-avoid-prescription-dispensing-mistakes/">pharmaceutical dispensing errors.</a><br /><br />Jon Schnaars at <span style="font-style: italic;">Anxiety, Addiction and Depression</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Treatments </span>comments on recent research looking at the questionable use of "check-list" questionnaires in psychiatric diagnosis and arbitrary exclusion criteria in <a href="http://treatmentonline.com/treatments.php?id=1275"><span style="font-size:100%;">Checklists Often Fail to Address Important Aspects of Depression Diagnosis.</span></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Anonymous</span> takes another look in <a href="http://doctoranonymous.blogspot.com/2007/04/is-depression-really-depression.html">is depression really depression </a>?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miscellany and Mirth</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhtO1GR4E_I/AAAAAAAAAbg/KnoxxH3uvbU/s1600-h/001cow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhtO1GR4E_I/AAAAAAAAAbg/KnoxxH3uvbU/s400/001cow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051718081151767538" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Aaaaaah...Dr ? Are you Ok ?</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dancing Bare</span> gives us a taste of Gilbert and Sullivan with an ode to <a href="http://wyldefyre.blogspot.com/2007/04/dr-mom.html">Dr. Mom</a>.<br /><br />Roy of <span style="font-style: italic;">Shrink Rap</span> gives an emotive, heartwarming view of the necessity of humour in preserving sanity in the face of tragedy in <a href="http://psychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com/2007/03/laughter-is-drug.html">laughter is a drug</a>. Dr Dork couldn't agree more. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ijeoma Eleazu</span> reminds us that <a href="http://www.healthline.com/blogs/health_observances/2007/04/april-is-national-humor-month.html">April is national humour month f</a>or American readers.<br /><br />Dr Karen Little, a South African intern, of <span style="font-style: italic;">Just Up the Dose,</span> shares with us some stomach churning experiences in a post succinctly titled<a href="http://justupthedose.blogspot.com/2007/04/ew.html"> ew</a>.<br /><br />Dr J of <span style="font-style: italic;">Northmed </span>does some brain-twisting with <a href="http://northmed.blogspot.com/2007/03/medical-acronymony.html">medical acronymony</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Nurse Ratched</span> shares with us some outstanding additions to her vast collection of <a href="http://nurse-ratcheds.blogspot.com/2007/04/more-medical-pulp-fiction.html">medical pulp fiction</a>. Ah, those were the days....<br /><br />What ? Time for my sponge bath already ?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >In Parting</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Charity Doc</span> <a href="http://fingersandtubesineveryorifice.blogspot.com/2007/03/ode-to-butterfly.html">shares an ode</a> dedicated to the much admired Barbados Butterfly whose wings have been sadly clipped.<br /><br />It is common knowledge, after some dubious leakage to a major Australian newspaper, that Dr Barb was (in this Dork's, and many others opinions) inappropriately reprimanded by her hospital administration. Dr Dork recalls his many 100+ hour weeks from his hospital training days. Even back then many administrators preferred to deny the ridiculously unsafe hours many doctors worked. Unsafe for patients and doctors both. Dr Dork suspects this is what got Dr Barb in trouble...but we will, sadly, possibly never know.<br /><br />Dr Dork has badgered Dr Barb into providing an "approved statement", which follows.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">BARB BUTTERFLY STATEMENT APPROVED FOR RELEASE</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">=============================================</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dear Blogosphere,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thanks to everyone for your well wishes, kind words, expressions of concern</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and thoughtful tributes in recent weeks – I was amazed to realise the extent</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">to which the Barbados Butterfly blog had touched and inspired others since</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">its beginning in 2005. As </span><span style="font-style: italic;">the blogosphere has </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://msspnexus.blogs.com/mspblog/2007/04/barbados_butter.html">reported</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, the BB blog has been </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/2007/03/who-breaks-butterfly-upon-wheel.html">down</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> since March 15th 2007.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The 2006 post “Tips For Surgical Intern #1” stated that in a bad situation</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">you can either leave it, reframe it, accept it or change it. In some</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">situations change is the only option. It may be daunting and difficult, but</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">that must not dissuade us from trying. Surgical training is necessarily</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">hard, but there are some paths that trainees should not have to walk. Long</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">term readers will recall my Darker Days series:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“I do know that as a profession we need to do better. We need to promote a</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">culture of safety. We need humane leaders - both clinicians and</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">administrators. We need to value our colleagues and create work environments</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">that we feel confident about and excited to be a part of.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I am grateful that there are people who are both willing to accept the need</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">for change and willing to act. My blog is down and I shall miss sharing my</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">stories with you, but I sleep restfully (my pager notwithstanding!) and</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">continue to wield my scalpel with a smile. We live in exciting times.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.” – Anonymous.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Best wishes and much love to all,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Barbados Butterfly</span><br /><br /><br />That's all for this week. Next weeks edition of Grand Rounds will be hosted by <a href="http://fatdoctor.blogspot.com/">The Fat Doctor</a>.<br /><br />Addendum: the pre-emptively curmudgeonly Dr Nick Genes interviewed Dr Dork for Medscape Pre-Rounds <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554654">here.</a>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-39168686377372983172007-04-07T05:54:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.526+10:00Can I have some more, Sir ?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rhal_KkIiiI/AAAAAAAAAbI/HgpSdFGiCIE/s1600-h/oliver.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rhal_KkIiiI/AAAAAAAAAbI/HgpSdFGiCIE/s400/oliver.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050406536728840738" border="0" /></a><br />Just a reminder.<br /><br />Grand Rounds here this coming Tuesday. All are welcome.<br /><br />Submissions to dorkdr@gmail.comDr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-63870550879369685102007-04-05T23:49:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.511+10:00Low Expectations<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhT_jakIihI/AAAAAAAAAbA/yRB8siNn7HM/s1600-h/pipGE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhT_jakIihI/AAAAAAAAAbA/yRB8siNn7HM/s400/pipGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049942066080549394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pip and Miss Havisham</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;">The key to enjoying modern cinema, perhaps.</span><br /><br /><br />Dr Dork is aware of the detriment that the culture of merit-free celebrity has upon civilised society. He tries to avoid TV...apart from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092455/">Dorky</a> things.<br /><br />Dr Dork occasionally, for various and variable reasons, inflicts aspects of his musical or literary tastes upon his readers. He has only - <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/photos/N/NYET15601232145-big.jpg">indirectly</a> - referenced contemporary cinema once before.<br /><br />Tonight's Film at Château Dork: <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449059/">Little Miss Sunshine</a> (LMS)</span><br /><br /><br />Dr Dork loathes formulaic film. Dr Dork enjoys films that break the mold. Or is that mould ? Unlike much of the current commercial cause <span style="">célèbre</span>, such can still, at times, be considered an art form.<br /><br />Dr Dork had been recommended LMS by a few members of his desiccated gene pool, and had read a few <span style="font-style: italic;">rave reviews.<br /><br /></span>Rave reviews are usually the kiss of death at Château Dork. However...Dr Dork needed an extra movie to complete his <span style="font-style: italic;">VideoStoreCheapoDeal</span> today. LMS effectively cost a dollar. Expectations were low.<br /><br />Expectations were surpassed.<br /><br />Conflict of interests should be identified:<br /><br />1. Dr Dork has had a schoolboy crush on Toni Collette since <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110598/">Muriel's Wedding</a>.<br /><br />2. Dr Dork perhaps sees too much of himself in Steve Carrell's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405422/">previous</a> roles.<br /><br /><br />Dr Dork enjoys ice cream. French vanilla, preferably. Enough said.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.missusa.com/">Pageants</a> debase and demean <a href="http://www.universalroyalty.com/">humanity.</a> Enough said.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-27122282240714591352007-04-03T20:38:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.501+10:00Urostream Grand Rounds, and holler for submissions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhIu0VT22oI/AAAAAAAAAao/pRTX1xHr3Qg/s1600-h/th_grandround.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 97px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhIu0VT22oI/AAAAAAAAAao/pRTX1xHr3Qg/s320/th_grandround.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049149608844253826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://urostream.blogspot.com/2007/03/grand-rounds-vol-3-no-28.html#links">Grand Rounds are up at UroStream.</a><br /></span><br />Dr Dork thinks Dr Keagirl (seen here:) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhIwXVT22qI/AAAAAAAAAa4/1db961P7RfQ/s1600-h/Keagirl_portrait.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RhIwXVT22qI/AAAAAAAAAa4/1db961P7RfQ/s200/Keagirl_portrait.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049151309651303074" border="0" /></a><br />has the most amusing and apt blogheader of all medical bloggers, but he can't work out how to display it...so you'll have to go <a href="http://urostream.blogspot.com/">see for yourself !</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Dork will have the pleasure of hosting Grand Rounds next week. Please make your submissions to dorkdr(AT)gmail(DOT)com.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Curfew will be lunchtime Monday your local time, after which the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.H.U.D.">CHUDs</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> will be released.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Grand Rounds will be following the traditional format as per Nick Genes </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://blogborygmi.blogspot.com/2004/09/grand-rounds-submission-guidelines.html">guidelines</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> from the early days of the tubal interweb, with a selection of highlights from the week.<br /><br /><br /></span><span>Addendum: You can find Dr Keagirls Pre-Rounds Medscape interview with Dr Nick Genes* <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554166">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />*Grand Rounds founder/co-ordinator/eternal slave to the beast he has created</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-51468834010608843772007-03-29T17:14:00.000+10:002010-07-11T12:52:37.490+10:00Centennial Rounds<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rgtp11T22mI/AAAAAAAAAaU/9p7nrQ_cjVk/s1600-h/DrRibeiro.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rgtp11T22mI/AAAAAAAAAaU/9p7nrQ_cjVk/s400/DrRibeiro.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047244180963121762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.messybeast.com/history/working.htm">Dr Rosendo Ribeiro</a>, and his trusty zebra, Kenya, 1907</span><br /></span></span></div><br />Dr Dork, whilst briefly logging on the intertubes to upload his typically belated Grand Rounds notification, noticed that this is also his hundredth post.<br /><br />Dr Dork can almost hear the tumultuous response from the medical blogosphere :<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Whoop-di-do."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Tell someone who gives a rat's derrière."<br /><br /></span><span>Dr Dork has wrestled since beginning to blog with a multiplicity of goals to the endeavour. Overarching all of these, of course, is the <a href="http://drdork.blogspot.com/2006/01/what-is-this-site.html">primary reason</a> why he came into existence.<br /></span><br /><span>Like many of his medical brethren, Dr Dork has a propensity towards perfectionism and distinct obsessive traits. "<span style="font-style: italic;">Best to do something well, or not at all</span>," he recalls Dork Sr advising.<br /><br />Dr Dork suspects his psychologically savvy colleagues might suggest this "everything or nothing" style of thinking is a recipe for disaster.<br /><br />There are a lot of medical blogs out there. Dr Dork has lost count of the number he is now <a href="http://www.bloglines.com/">subscribed</a> to. Many of the consistently productive ones seem to focus on a particular modality or two of blogging only:<br /></span><br /><span><a href="http://nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/">Politics</a> of healthcare. The particular speciality of the writer: <a href="http://surgeonsblog.blogspot.com/">Surgeons</a> <a href="http://drdeborahserani.blogspot.com/">to</a> <a href="http://psychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com/">shrinks</a>. <a href="http://allbleedingstops.blogspot.com/">Emergency</a> <a href="http://www.fingersandtubesineveryorifice.blogspot.com/">medicine</a> to <a href="http://dinosaurmusings.blogspot.com/">General</a> <a href="http://nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/">Practice</a>. <a href="http://drfleablog.blogspot.com/">Little</a> people to even <a href="http://neonataldoc.blogspot.com/">littler</a> people. <a href="http://drwes.blogspot.com/">Tickers</a> to <a href="http://urostream.blogspot.com/">tubing</a>. <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/">Debunking</a> quackery. <a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog//">Collating</a> medical news. The history of <a href="http://www.emergiblog.com/">nursing caps</a> and <a href="http://nurse-ratcheds.blogspot.com/">dodgy romance</a> novels. Medical <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/drcharles/">literature</a>. <a href="http://trick-cyclingforbeginners.blogspot.com/">Doctor as patient</a>.<br /><br />Just to name a few.<br /><br />Dr Dork is fragmented. He produces random output in at least 5 different modalities. Choosing to avoid his particular speciality field (which may or may not have been touched on at some point) is quite limiting.<br /></span><br /><span>Anyway.The <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682280.html">loperamide</a> appears to be kicking in, so enough verbal diarrhoea for now.<br /><br />Suffice it to say Dr Dork is contemplating whether he might get more out (ie. put more in) if he chose a particular modality on which to focus. We'll see.<br /><br />A trace of ennui intrudes at present, and output shall continue scarcely. This appears the eternal nature of the Dork, to spew forth at random intervals in random amounts. So be it - <span style="font-style: italic;">like it or lump it</span>...Ha!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rgt3I1T22nI/AAAAAAAAAac/iXnRr5swhqA/s1600-h/th_grandround.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rgt3I1T22nI/AAAAAAAAAac/iXnRr5swhqA/s320/th_grandround.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047258801031797362" border="0" /></a><span>The main point of this post, before Dr Dork become absorbed in the wonders of navel gazing, is that Grand Rounds is up at <a href="http://burkemed.blogspot.com/2007/03/grand-rounds.html">Medviews</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />Medviews is written by </span><a href="http://burkemed.blogspot.com/">Dr Stuart Henochowicz</a>, an Allergist/Immunologist at Georgetown with an impressive breadth of credentials.<br /><span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-29939793304172680172007-03-24T18:12:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.479+10:00Grand Rounds and Dorkish Humour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RgTRSaxjxUI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/cKffDr2YNHc/s1600-h/th_grandround.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RgTRSaxjxUI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/cKffDr2YNHc/s320/th_grandround.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045387596916835650" border="0" /></a>Dr Dork is aware Grand Rounds was posted several days ago. Better late than never.<span style="" lang="EN-AU"><br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://blogmd.samblackman.org/">Dr Sam Blackman</a> is a paediatric haematologist/oncologist from the US who is the host of <a href="http://blogmd.samblackman.org/?p=305">Grand Rounds this week</a>.<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">For any non-medical readers <span style="font-style: italic;">paed/haem/onc</span> = little kiddies with cancer.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Tough gig.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Blackman touches on the role of humour in grand rounds, and Dr Dork thinks this a salient</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RgTRcqxjxVI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/Ec-xFyEHFdQ/s1600-h/changeofshift.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RgTRcqxjxVI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/Ec-xFyEHFdQ/s320/changeofshift.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045387773010494802" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-AU"> point.<o:p> In a similar vein, <a href="http://www.codeblog.com/">CodeBlog</a> has made impressive use of limericks in this weeks<br /><a href="http://www.codeblog.com/archives/the_scoop/change_of_shift_volume_1_numbe.html">Change of</a></o:p></span><a href="http://www.codeblog.com/archives/the_scoop/change_of_shift_volume_1_numbe.html"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p> Shift.</o:p></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Humour is a useful tool in medical teaching, and in medical practice. From his psychiatry days, Dr Dork recalls it as a critical element of assessing a mental state properly.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Humour is, of course, a therapeutic tool in and of itself. Although Dr <a href="http://www.patchadams.org/home.htm">Hunter "Patch" Adams</a> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Adams#Patch_Adams.27_controversial_statements_on_depression">controversial</a> figure, and Dr Dork disagrees to some extent with his <a href="http://nurse-ratcheds.blogspot.com/2007/03/night-with-patch-adams.html">extremely</a> anti- “conventional” psychiatry stance, the message that humour does us good is beyond reproach.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">In this spirit, Dr Dork would like to share some of his favourite humour sites. Please note, some are at times crude. In the tradition of <a href="http://www.fark.com/">FARK</a>, the NSFW (<span style="font-style: italic;">not safe for work</span>) tag will be applied for these, for those of you reading from a work computer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Dork Humour</span><br /><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="" lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://drmcninja.com/">Dr McNinja</a> – yes, it is a comic strip about a Ninja Doctor. Seriously. The premise : a kindly physician is infected with a virus which bestows ninja powers. The current story, with guest (ie. shoddy) artwork is average, but the archives are very entertaining. <br /> </span><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><br /><a href="http://amateurtransplants.blogspot.com/">Amateur Transplants</a> – by Dr Suman who is a British anaesthetics trainee. The highlight is the section of mp3s, which are very funny.<br /><br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.chaser.com.au/">Chaser</a> – largely political Australian humour, possibly nonsensical to those outside Oz.<br /><br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://joshreads.com/">Comics curmudgeon</a> – dissects humorously various daily comic strips<br /><br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU">The <a href="http://www.ifilm.com/show/17676">Daily Show</a> – you can’t get the show clips via Youtube anymore due to <a href="http://www.ifilm.com/video/2835488/show/17676">Viacom</a> getting all "sue-y", but they are posted here at <a href="http://www.ifilm.com/video/2835488/show/17676">ifilm</a>. The <a href="http://www.ifilm.com/show/17670">Chappelle</a> Show archive is also recommended. <span style="font-style: italic;">Sometimes</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">NSFW<br /><br /></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.dilbert.com/">Dilbert</a> – probably the funniest comic around at present, given that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_and_Hobbes">Patterson</a> and <a href="http://www.thefarside.com/">Larson</a></span><br /><span style="" lang="EN-AU"> have effectively retired.<br /><br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://distractiblemind.ambulatorycomputing.com/">Dr Rob</a> – arguably the funniest medical blogger around, at least to Dr Dork's mind, although there is some stiff competition about.<br /><br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://origin.theonion.com/content/">The Onion</a><br /><br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU">The <a href="http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/">Overheard</a> series. <span style="font-style: italic;">NSFW<br /><br /></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://reasonsyouwillhateme.blogspot.com/">Reasons you will hate me</a>. A sometimes raunchy blog with much political humour, by a 30-something author/screenwriter/ex-child actress that is especially entertaining if familiar with Melbourne. <span style="font-style: italic;">Very NSFW<br /><br /></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-AU">And last but not least, <a href="http://www.redmeat.com/redmeat/current/index.html">Red Meat</a>, <a href="http://www.drinkatwork.com/mediumlarge.html">Medium Large</a> and <a href="http://www.pbfcomics.com/">The Perry Bible Fellowship</a> are three irreverently funny web comics. <span style="font-style: italic;">Often NSFW<br /><br /></span></span>Well, all that should keep some of you out of mischief for awhile.<br /><br />Dr Dork is a bit tied up at present, hence Chateau Dork might be a tad quiet over the next week or two. He also apologises for being rather tardy in replying to comments - these will be addressed over the next few days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RgTb7KxjxWI/AAAAAAAAAaE/qpwikEZBFh8/s1600-h/shack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RgTb7KxjxWI/AAAAAAAAAaE/qpwikEZBFh8/s400/shack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045399292112782690" border="0" /></a>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-53597945129124797522007-03-19T21:59:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.467+10:00Viraemia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rf5yflooiII/AAAAAAAAAZs/cg_VSh0iQv8/s1600-h/droplets.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rf5yflooiII/AAAAAAAAAZs/cg_VSh0iQv8/s400/droplets.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043594519705585794" border="0" /></a><br />Dr Dork generally is wary of "memes", in the same way he doesn't forward chain mail.<br /><br />Nonetheless, as two health bloggers he holds in high esteem, <a href="http://angrydr.blogspot.com/">AngryDoc</a> and <a href="http://nobodyimportant-jmb.blogspot.com/index.html">JMB</a>, have <a href="http://www.eniar.org/news/curse.html">pointed the bone</a> in regards to suggesting Dr Dork is a "thinking blog"...<br /><br />Flattery will get you everywhere, Dr Dork thinks.<br /><br />The requirements of this "meme"<br /><br />1. Post with links to 5 blogs that <span style="font-style: italic;">make you think</span>.<br /><br />2. Link to <span style="font-style: italic;">(*original source blog*)</span> which contains advertisements and solicits "donations" to its author. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Maybe not</span>.<br /><br />3. Variation on 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Definitely not.</span><br /><br />Well, if anyone's interested, these are the 5 blogs that make Dr Dork think more than any other:<br /><br /> 1. <a href="http://strangersfever.blogspot.com/index.html">Stranger's Fever</a><br /><br /> 2. <a href="http://nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/index.html">NHS Blog Doc</a><br /><br /> 3. <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/">Respectful Insolence</a><br /><br /> 4. <a href="http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/">The Dilbert Blog</a><br /><br /> 5. <a href="http://www.intueri.org/">Intueri</a><br /><br />These selections are entirely idiosyncratic, in random order, and Dr Dork also notes that thinking ain't always a good thing. Ha !Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-3332414235375542792007-03-16T05:01:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.457+10:00Chrysalis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RfmTHzMPEDI/AAAAAAAAAZk/9fY6HKGYJtw/s1600-h/chrysalis.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RfmTHzMPEDI/AAAAAAAAAZk/9fY6HKGYJtw/s400/chrysalis.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042223020027875378" border="0" /></a><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">The Bloglines <s>post notifier</s> / <s>reader</s> / thingamajig, which Dr Dork opens even before his email nowadays when cranking up <span style="font-style: italic;">Old Rusty</span><sup><span style="font-style: italic;">TM</span> </sup>, his venerable PC, is temperamental at best.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Oftentimes, little red exclamation points appear next to various blogs Dr Dork subscribes to. Usually, this is a transient software glitch. Going directly to a blog / site address bypasses such RSS or similar problems.<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Today, <a href="http://www.barbadosbutterfly.blogspot.com/">Barbados Butterfly</a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(link now inactive)</span> was “flagged” in this manner.<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork had some trouble accessing the site, and presumed a glitch or gremlin was at play until just now reading <a href="http://nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/2007/03/who-breaks-butterfly-upon-wheel.html">this</a>.<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork is very sad tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">As he has mentioned elsewhere, Dr Dork has been reading weblogs of non-medical nature for years, but only really began to appreciate the burgeoning of medical blogging in late 2005, not long before dipping his own toe sporadically into this great ocean of data.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Although the <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">*cough*</span></span> “honour” was never requested, this dork has long considered Dr Barb as one of his “blogparents”…whatever that means. If nothing else – it is a token of respect and admiration.</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Dr Dork is hoping against hope this heralds a necessary pupation, and that Dr Barb will one day return.Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-73891801982821420422007-03-14T12:33:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.447+10:00Grand Rounds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RfdRijMPECI/AAAAAAAAAZc/f-Pz5pKUt5I/s1600-h/th_grandround.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RfdRijMPECI/AAAAAAAAAZc/f-Pz5pKUt5I/s320/th_grandround.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041587961868521506" border="0" /></a><a href="http://scienceroll.com/2007/03/13/grand-rounds-325/">Grand Rounds</a> are up at<a href="http://scienceroll.com"> ScienceRoll</a> which is a blog by an Hungarian medical student.<br /><br />Interspersed this week with lots of Monty Python videos.<br /><br />Ni !Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-54651917423926185492007-03-11T19:35:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.437+10:00Wordsmith of the Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RfPRCzMPEBI/AAAAAAAAAZU/oL-P2_rYraQ/s1600-h/wordsmith.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/RfPRCzMPEBI/AAAAAAAAAZU/oL-P2_rYraQ/s400/wordsmith.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040602253989187602" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork <span style="font-style: italic;">(to waiting room)</span>:<br />Mr Simia ?<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mr Simia stands. They enter office.</span><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork:<br />Hello, Mr Simia. Have a seat.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">How are you today ?<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Mr Simia:<br />G’day doc. F***ing al’right. Not too f***ing bad. F***ing hot, ‘ay ?<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork:<br />Boiling, isn’t it ? So, tell me about…..<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-style: italic;">(later)</span><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork:<br />And what operations have you had before ?<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Mr Simia:<br />Couple ‘a things. My knee was f***ed for years.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork:<br />….<o:p><br /></o:p><br />Mr Simia:<br />Then Dr Amazing fixed it. <a href="http://www.orthosports.com.au/acl.html">ACL</a>. Better than ever. It was f***ing f***ed for years before. He is absolutely f***ing amazing. Best f***ing doctor ever. Does all the <a href="http://afl.com.au/">footy</a> players. Really f***ing good.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork:<br />…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p>Mr Simia:<br />F*** oath. Good job, mate.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork:<br />…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p>Dr Dork:<br />…and the other operation ?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p>Mr Simia:<br />Opened up me f***ing guts and ripped me appendix out. F***ing ripped it out.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork:<br />OK then…<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Uh..by the way...you know your appendix didn’t do you any good, anyway ? So no harm in losing it.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Mr Simia:<br />Well, why the f*** is it there then ? What f***ing good ?<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Dr Dork:<br />Some people would say it is a vestigial evolutionary remnant. Of something useful at an earlier stage..<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Mr Simia:<br />F***ing evolution ? What about that s*** anyway ? What f***ing proof ? Eh ? Why’s it there then if there’s evolution. Why we f***ing evolve it if it's no f***ing good ?</span></p><br />Dr Dork:<br />Fair enough...now, back to.....<br /><br /><br />Dr Dork avoids imposing his religious or other world views on his patients. He believes it unethical to do so. This was an attempt to reassure gone horribly wrong. Mr S was raring to go for a philosophical debate. Which would have been interesting.<br /><br />Dr Dork is trying to figure out how to write dialogue effectively. You have been warned.Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-72630080317074207032007-03-08T19:27:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.426+10:00Mateship and Rapport<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Re_ohX2j4eI/AAAAAAAAAZM/1oynxpIcE5E/s1600-h/old+slim.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Re_ohX2j4eI/AAAAAAAAAZM/1oynxpIcE5E/s400/old+slim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039502168087060962" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.slimdusty.com.au/"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Old Slim</span></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Mate" </span>is a non specific greeting used between Australians. Of <span style="font-style: italic;">both </span>genders in certain regions. It is usually of a positive connotation.<br /><br />As with much Australian <a href="http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html#M">vernacular</a>, subtleties of inflection and context can produce a great variety of meanings.<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Maaaaaaaaaaaate</span>", as a drawn out drawl, accompanied usually by a half-smile and a knuckle-crunching handshake, is the traditional greeting of the Australian male in the wild.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"G'day, mate!"</span> is often used as a general, friendly greeting to an unknown person, especially of the male persuasion. The equivalent of <span style="font-style: italic;">"Good afternoon, sir", "Bonjour, monsieur"</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Mate"</span> can also be used in a derogatory context just as easily and this is what led Dr Dork to consider the topic today.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;">Whilst sauntering down the street in the vague direction of his morning bus, Dr Dork was nearly cleaned up by a cyclist who barrelled past without warning. A near collision...and partially Dr Dorks fault, as he tends to meander along a circuitous path, especially when his mind is 90% elsewhere...as it often is.</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;">The words that leapt to Dr Dorks lips, albeit unspoken: "Use your *(</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-size:85%;" >edited</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;">)* bell, mate!".</span><br /><br />Dr Dork sometimes refers to his male patients as <span style="font-style: italic;">"mate"</span>.<br /><br />On his new patient registration forms the only option available is <span style="font-style: italic;">Mr </span>for males.<br /><br />Being of a certain age, Dr Dork still refers to new older male patients as <span style="font-style: italic;">"sir"</span>, unless or until they clearly indicate a preference otherwise. Younger males are usually <span style="font-style: italic;">"mate"</span> or addressed by first name.<br /><br />This seems to assist in rapport building with younger males, in particular. It is a gesture of camaraderie, of casual "blokiness" that makes the staid old Dr Dork seem less intimidating to a young 'un, perhaps.<br /><br />Females may select Ms, Miss or Mrs, and are addressed according to their preference. No grey areas.<br /><br />On the whole, Dr Dork finds it often takes longer to develop rapport with female patients. He is a <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">dork</span>, and thus the instinctive female repugnance to <a href="http://www.viphostsystem.com/glossario/nerd.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;">Homo Dorkus Sapiens</span></a> (and his negative evolutionary corollaries) must be gradually overcome.<br /><br />The greater flexibility he has in addressing his male patients seems to further facilitate rapport. More scope to tailor to the individual, less possibility of inadvertent offence.<br /><br />Dr Dork works only in adult medicine. Kiddie rapport is a whole other kettle of fish. Ask <a href="http://drfleablog.blogspot.com/">Dr Flea</a>.<br /><br />Children are evil, and should stay off the lawn, anyway.Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-85772233034198952682007-03-07T00:00:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.410+10:00Grand Rounds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Re1mD6f-c2I/AAAAAAAAAZE/YaOeWcyrNsg/s1600-h/th_grandround.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Re1mD6f-c2I/AAAAAAAAAZE/YaOeWcyrNsg/s320/th_grandround.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038795775526466402" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.gruntdoc.com/2007/03/medblogs_grand_70.html">Grand Rounds</a> are now up at <a href="http://www.gruntdoc.com/">Grunt Doc.<br /></a>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-76999553626060491302007-02-28T20:49:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.400+10:00Grand Rounds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/ReVQXaFFSjI/AAAAAAAAAYs/anrnQZ0F0eY/s1600-h/th_grandround.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/ReVQXaFFSjI/AAAAAAAAAYs/anrnQZ0F0eY/s320/th_grandround.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036520121351621170" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://dinosaurmusings.blogspot.com/2007/02/grand-rounds-323.html">Grand Rounds</a> for this week are up at one of Dr Dork's favourite reads, <a href="http://dinosaurmusings.blogspot.com/">Musings of a Dinosaur</a>.<br /><br />Next week they will be hosted at <a href="http://www.gruntdoc.com/">GruntDoc</a>.Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-43262198816959528052007-02-26T16:59:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.389+10:00Stasis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/ReJ_gEhQStI/AAAAAAAAAYU/y9jrlLNP0HU/s1600-h/niagara.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/ReJ_gEhQStI/AAAAAAAAAYU/y9jrlLNP0HU/s400/niagara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035727522299398866" border="0" /></a><br />This isn't a post of any substance, beyond self-indulgence, so feel free to skip over it.<br /><br />The <a href="http://nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/2007/02/britmeds-2007-8.html#links">BritMeds</a> are worth a read if seeking proper medical blogging.<br /><br />Dr Dork is mildly concerned that he is violating a <a href="http://dinosaurmusings.blogspot.com/2006/11/blogging-101.html">Dinosaur</a> rule or two today.<br /><br />Well, not that concerned, really.<br /><br />He is going to talk about blogging, as a <a href="http://www.theoldcomputer.com/Libarary%27s/Pictures/NESGameCovers/D/Dr.%20Jekyll%20%27n%20Mr%20Hyde.jpg">doctor</a>, and any feedback, scathing or otherwise, is welcome.<br /><br />Dr Dork has waffled on <a href="http://drdork.blogspot.com/2006/04/lazarus-arise.html">previously</a> as to his personal motivations for blogging. He enjoys, most of all, blogs of those driven by similar motivations.<br /><br />Yet once one has established a 'presence', however limited, however brief, one cannot help but feel an expectation to pander, to please an invisible audience. This is the kiss of death for a blogger such as Dr Dork. This explains his reticence about participating in <a href="http://drdork.blogspot.com/2007/01/no-more-blog-awards.html">certain</a> annual events. Not to imply that there is anything wrong with these - far from it. Simply that Dr Dork considers such contrary to his personal blogging motivations, as he is one who blogs anonymously for his own edification, ventilation and amusement.<br /><br />Dr Dork is new to medical weblogs, only having really discovered them in late 2005, but has been present, under a different pseudonym, in a couple of non-medical online forums, for several years. He was once asked to contribute, a few years ago, a regular 'column' to a popular non-medical Australian website, and did so for awhile, before finding that it was sapping his creative impetus, and found his interest and output soon waning.<br /><br />It would be interesting to hear what Dr Dorks colleagues in <a href="http://www.montekids.org/neurologicaldisorders/images/CHAM_Brain.jpg">supratentorial</a> pathology think of this propensity. Conversely, Dr Dork in his "non-creative" life as a medico is driven to work harder by increased demand. In practical and technical matters, his output increases with increasing demand.<br /><br />This has led Dr Dork to the conclusion....that Sloth is his muse.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/ReKBoEhQSuI/AAAAAAAAAYc/lBHB0bxUdZY/s1600-h/two-toed-sloth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/ReKBoEhQSuI/AAAAAAAAAYc/lBHB0bxUdZY/s400/two-toed-sloth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035729858761607906" border="0" /></a>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236460315428555284.post-35641225492346974432007-02-25T02:31:00.000+11:002010-07-11T12:52:37.379+10:00Absent poetry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rvp705uerRI/AAAAAAAAAc8/4ye1Kguf48w/s1600-h/outlook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8kNkifMGVL0/Rvp705uerRI/AAAAAAAAAc8/4ye1Kguf48w/s400/outlook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114536475611802898" border="0" /></a>Dr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.com0