Scott's MD-PhD Adventure

Friday, May 27, 2005

Senfronia is my sistah!

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/columnists/molly_ivins/11743246.htm

'Today is one of the all-time low points'

By Molly Ivins

Creators Syndicate

Thursday, May 26, 2005

AUSTIN - Rarely are the words of one state legislator worth national attention, but when Senfronia Thompson, a black representative from Houston, stalks to the back mike with a certain "get-out-of-my-way" look in her eye, it's Katie, bar the door.

Here is Thompson speaking against the Legislature's recent folly of sending a superfluous anti-gay-marriage amendment for the Texas Constitution out to the voters:

"I have been a member of this august body for three decades, and today is one of the all-time low points. We are going in the wrong direction, in the direction of hate and fear and discrimination. Members, we all know what this is about; this is the politics of divisiveness at its worst, a wedge issue that is meant to divide.

"Members, this is a distraction from the real things we need to be working on. At the end of this session, this Legislature, this leadership will not be able to deliver the people of Texas fundamental and fair answers to the pressing issues of our day.

"Let's look at what this amendment does not do: It does not give one Texas citizen meaningful tax relief. It does not reform or fully fund our education system. It does not restore one child to CHIP who was cut from health insurance last session. It does not put one dime into raising Texas' Third World access to health care. It does not do one thing to care for or protect one elderly person or one child in this state. In fact, it does not even do anything to protect one marriage.

"Members, this bill is about hate and fear and discrimination. … When I was a small girl, white folks used to talk about 'protecting the institution of marriage' as well. What they meant was if people of my color tried to marry people of Mr. [Warren] Chisum's color, you'd often find the people of my color hanging from a tree. … Fifty years ago, white folks thought interracial marriages were 'a threat to the institution of marriage.'

"Members, I'm a Christian and a proud Christian. I read the good book and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, 'Gay people can't marry.' I have never read the verse where it says, 'Thou shalt discriminate against those not like me.' I have never read the verse where it says, 'Let's base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination.' Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness ....

"You want to pass this ridiculous amendment so you can go home and brag -- brag about what? Declare that you saved the people of Texas from what?

"Persons of the same sex cannot get married in this state now. Texas law does not now recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, religious unions, domestic partnerships, contractual arrangements or Christian blessings entered into in this state -- or anywhere else on this planet Earth.

"If you want to make your hateful political statements, then that is one thing -- but the Chisum amendment does real harm. It repeals the contracts that many single people have paid thousands of dollars to purchase to obtain medical powers of attorney, powers of attorney, hospital visitation, joint ownership and support agreements. You have lost your way. This is obscene. …

"I thought we would be debating economic development, property tax relief, protecting seniors' pensions and stem cell research to save lives of Texans who are waiting for a more abundant life. Instead we are wasting this body's time with this political stunt that is nothing more than constitutionalizing discrimination. The prejudices exhibited by members of this body disgust me. …

"I have listened to all the arguments. I have listened to all of the crap. … I want you to know that this amendment [is] blowing smoke to fuel the hell-fire flames of bigotry."

Then they passed the amendment.

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Summer things to do, part 1

1. HotTix Grand Opening Celebration Tues 5/24 10am-5pm. Free prizes to first people. 10am-5pm

2. Architecture lunch. Wed 5/25 12:15pm 224 S. Michigan Avenue. Architect Kevin Pierce - "Green Buildings on the West Side" 312-922-3432 ext. 266

3. Tequila Tasting&Food at Salud Lounge. 1471 N. Milwaukee. Wed&Thurs 5/24 and 5/25 7:30pm $35 each.

4. Go see Wicked via rush seats - $20 each, drawing at 4pm (~ 50 W. Randolph)
5. Go see Hedwig, Friday&Saturday at 11:30pm, Bailiwick 1229 W. Belmont
6. Go see a Wait,Wait taping - Thursdays at 7:30pm $20 at Bank One Auditorium. Other link.
7. Go see Floss! on a Saturday at 8pm 4210 N. Lincoln.
8. Go sailing.
9. Buy a bike
10. Go to Second City
Frank Lloyd Wright tour

Monday, May 16, 2005

Twelve types of med students

which one am i?
thanks to sasha for it! :)

Good article about gay marriage

This is from the Boston Herald.

"For Porter and others, it calls to mind a well-worn joke in the gay community:

Question: What does a gay man bring to a second date?
Answer: What second date?
Question: What does a lesbian bring to a second date?
Answer: A U-Haul."

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Poor Neil

Scott: Yeah, that bald muscle guy was not hot.
Neil: well if i didnt look at his face, everything else was cute, lol
Neil: we need to come up with some kind of plan to stop eachother from taking ugly people home
Scott: i'll wear a "just say no" tshirt
Scott: and then if you aren't sure what to do
Scott: you look at my shirt
Neil: hahaha


Neil: have you seen my gay.com pic?
Scott: i think so
Neil: do you think it's an accurate representation?
Scott: yeah
Scott: for the most part
Neil: ok good...just wondering
Scott: you look more hetero in the pic than in person
Scott: you aren't as "straight-acting" as the pic implies
Neil: haha..yea that pic was before i 'discovered' myself
Scott: and by my "self"...you mean prostate? ;-)
Neil: heh heh O:-)

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

I'm done!

Let the farmers markets begin!

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

House

So this show is getting better and better. I've been really enjoying it, especially now that the stupid meanguy plot line is gone.

It's on Tuesdays at 9/8c. Watch, especially if you're a med/premed student.

Colbert Report

It's about time those fake ads for this show finally came true! I hope they both continue to work.

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Mnemonic of the Day

Some pituitary hormones are glycoproteins.
LH, FSH, and TSH are glycoproteins.
LH & FSH are released from gonadotrophs. TSH is released from thyrotropes.
The acronym for these cells is TG.
My old boss studied glycosylation of proteins (glycoproteins).
My old boss was TG.

*sigh* the things I do to pass. :)