Medical School on the Brain again...

Oh Lovely...

It's been indeed a lazy and up most quiet day at work and I decided to stumble on some old medical student blogs that I have always read in the past.

With my previous postings about people who I have known have passed away, I am thinking to myself that I am entering make or break mid-thirties and what I am going to do with my life. I got a beautiful girl who I love dearly, marriage and family plans and of course world travel. We agreed to each other that we cannot strive in once place for long as the boredom will extirpate us both.

What will I do with my life-long passion of entering the field of Medicine? These questions have been floating around in my head since my darling has finished her University Degree.

Volunteer in the ER again? Talk to my family Doctor? Plan a road map?

Perhaps being older and more diverse in my personal and professional life will give me the tenacity to reach such ambitions.

Bush coming to Calgary?

What?

You got to be kidding... Our beloved most screwed up ex-president from United States of American will be arriving in Calgary next to give a speech about his ups and downs through out his presidency. I really don't expect to see a warm welcome and native Calgarians fork out the money to listen to his ramblings...

Here is a funny article from the CBC website:

Protesters prepare for Bush's Calgary speech

Peace activists in Calgary are preparing a less than warm welcome for George W. Bush, who will be at a private function next week delivering one of his first speeches since leaving the White House.

A coalition calling itself People vs. Bush has planned a week of protest activities, starting Wednesday at noon with a banner display near the downtown Telus Convention Centre, where Bush is set to speak next week "on eight momentous years in the Oval Office" and "the challenges facing the world in the 21st century."

Group spokeswoman Collette Lemieux said the activists will come from as far away as Vancouver and Toronto to participate.

"I think a lot of people are really motivated by the idea that we have to make it really clear to him that he's not off the hook," she said. "I think it's important to people who think that he has committed war crimes to not just let this go by the wayside."

The group plans to hold a mock war crimes trial for Bush this weekend and stage a peaceful rally outside his speech next Tuesday. Lemieux is asking those who can't participate to send their shoes for a symbolic protest echoing the Iraqi journalist who threw his footwear at Bush.

An estimated 1,500 people are expected at the invitation-only, paid event to hear Bush. Organizers Andy McCreath and Christian Darbyshire reportedly paid former U.S. president Bill Clinton $150,000 for a March 2006 speech in Edmonton, and have hired Lance Armstrong and Colin Powell for other high-profile speaking engagements in the past.

Source: CBC.ca

Terry Fox Run

Since I have done one race in Hanoi, Vietnam, I have decided that I will run the 10 KM race in Eau Claire and raise money for the Terry Fox Cancer Foundation. The race will be on Sunday September 14th and it should take no more than a couple of hours.

For those who want to pledge for me, please send me an email and I will put you on the pledge sheet.

The Crocodile Hunter became hunted...

Crikey!!

The naturalist worked to protect Australian wildlife

Australian environmentalist and television personality Steve Irwin has died during a diving accident.

Mr Irwin, 44, was killed by a stingray barb to the chest while he was filming an underwater documentary in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.

Paramedics from the nearby city of Cairns rushed to treat him at the scene but were unable to save him.

Mr Irwin was known for his television show The Crocodile Hunter and his work with native Australian wildlife.

Police in Queensland confirmed the naturalist's death and said his family had been notified. Mr Irwin was married with two young children.

"It is believed that Mr Irwin collapsed after being stung by a stingray at Batt Reef off Port Douglas at about 11:00 am (0100 GMT)," a police statement quoted by AFP news agency said.

"His crew called for medical treatment and the Queensland medical helicopter responded, however Mr Irwin had died."

Documentaries

Mr Irwin had built up what was a small reptile park in Queensland into what is now Australia Zoo, a major centre for Australian wildlife.

Mr Irwin's documentaries were shown around the world

He was famous for handling dangerous creatures such as crocodiles, snakes and spiders, and his documentaries on his work with crocodiles drew a worldwide audience.

But he also courted controversy with a series of stunts.

He sparked outrage across Australia after cradling his one-month-old son a metre away from the reptile during a show at Australia Zoo.

A probe was also launched to investigate whether Mr Irwin and his team interacted too closely with penguins and whales while filming in the Antarctic, but no action was taken.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer praised Mr Irwin for his work to promote Australia.

"The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," Mr Downer's spokesman said.

Article from BBC International News...