Japan Wants People to Slim Down: "Under a national law that came into effect two months ago, companies and local governments must measure the waistlines of Japanese people between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of their annual checkups. .... To reach its goals of shrinking the overweight population by 10 percent over the next four years...the government will impose financial penalties on companies and local governments that fail to meet specific targets." San Francisco Chronicle, 6/13/2008
So to be overweight in Japan is not only unhealthy, it's illegal.
The CA company I work for has been owned by a large Japanese corporation for almost 20 years. During that time, we've had several sets of "interns" sent from Toyko. They each stay for about 4 years, improving their English and gradually absorbing some American culture. They arrive in suits and ties, drop down to Dockers and button down shirts, and carry slang dictionaries so they can understand their goof-ball American co-workers. None of them are overweight. If they stick with a traditional Japanese diet, they go home looking just like they did the day they arrived. If they adopt an American diet, they go home 10-20 lbs. heavier. According to this article, that could spell trouble.
I'm trying to image a law like this being passed in the USA. First of all, it's age and gender discriminatory. (Men must conform to a stricter waistline than women.) Second, it requires companies to be involved in personal health care. Try writing that into an employee handbook! Then, would we need an additional court system? Traffic fines, building code violations, and waistline non-conformance. "What do you do for a living? Oh, I'm in Waist Management." If you take an on-line nutrition course, can you have the violation taken off your record? If you are a repeat offender, are you sent to minimum security diet facility and kept until your waistline shrinks?
Of course, Americans would take to streets in protest - well, probably drive-by protesting or sit-ins, because we wouldn't want to walk all day carrying heavy protest signs. But a sit-in would be OK. "Keep Government Out of My Closet!" "American 4 Choice - Cheeseburgers are My Right!" "Watch Your Own Waistline, Not Mine!" "Overeating Is Not a Crime" ....
The article does mention some protest in Japan, but only because "there's no need at all" for the population to lose weight. Unlike here. Oh well, gotta go meet some friends for lunch. A California Roll or Tempura sounds good!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
I'm HOT - and that is so not good.
Global warming is a reality in my house. The south facing windows which are so attractive in the winter, flooding the house with light and warmth, are not so attractive during a CA summer. My 1950's house turns into a convection oven and nothing except the return of blessed, cooling nighttime fog reduces the heat inside. Unfortunately, that cooling nightime fog has not been making a regular appearance this year - climate change I guess.
Today I stayed home from work to get estimates for installing central heat and A/C. I don't care anymore about energy conservation or being environmentally correct! I want to turn a thermostat to 68 and blast cold air through the house! Experiencing hot flashes in the middle of the night in a 95 degree bedroom is primitive and it sucks!
So, I got the first estimate from Andrew, a "Heating and Cooling Specialist". The second one came from Bradley, a "Comfort Advisor". Yes, I need a comfort advisor - don't talk to me about btu's or SEER ratings or ducting, condensors, coils, or drain pans. I only want COMFORT!
Unfortunately, Bradley's estimate wasn't very comforting. I might have to stick with the heating and cooling specialist after all.
Today I stayed home from work to get estimates for installing central heat and A/C. I don't care anymore about energy conservation or being environmentally correct! I want to turn a thermostat to 68 and blast cold air through the house! Experiencing hot flashes in the middle of the night in a 95 degree bedroom is primitive and it sucks!
So, I got the first estimate from Andrew, a "Heating and Cooling Specialist". The second one came from Bradley, a "Comfort Advisor". Yes, I need a comfort advisor - don't talk to me about btu's or SEER ratings or ducting, condensors, coils, or drain pans. I only want COMFORT!
Unfortunately, Bradley's estimate wasn't very comforting. I might have to stick with the heating and cooling specialist after all.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The Ballot Box
I'm voting for a woman in November, even if it is considered an irrational, emotional, "female" decision. I'm a caucasian, middle class, college educated Baby Boomer and I've never been given this chance before and might never have the chance again. So, I'm taking it while I can. I know she's ruffled a few feathers here and there but I think she's articulate, educated, hard working and professional, and a master at prioritizing work & family. So what if her husband has had a more visible career so far? She's certainly very accomplished in her own arena and capable of achieving much, much more if given a chance. If she does end up in the White House, we'll be in for an interesting four years. I'm quite sure of that.
And yes, I know her name won't be on the ballot but I'm checking the Democratic box anyway. I want my vote to count. In January, I want to see Michelle Obama standing with her two young daughters on the inauguration podium - proud, beautiful, smart, and black. Theirs will be the faces of hope and change that America presents to the world. I'm voting female.
And yes, I know her name won't be on the ballot but I'm checking the Democratic box anyway. I want my vote to count. In January, I want to see Michelle Obama standing with her two young daughters on the inauguration podium - proud, beautiful, smart, and black. Theirs will be the faces of hope and change that America presents to the world. I'm voting female.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
The Terminator
A co-worker called me this morning with a basic question about our health care insurance. My stomach instantly pulled tighter than a surgeons knot. Not because I couldn't provide the answer which was very easy, but because I know this person will be terminated from his job tomorrow. In fact, I was working on the termination papers at the time he called. It wouldn't matter if I gave out incorrect information because he won't have health insurance in 26 days. Yes, he will be offered COBRA but at $925.00 per month to cover his family there is zero-zero-zero chance that he will enroll. At the end of June, there will be 40 million and 4 uninsured Americans.
This isn't the first time I've been in this position but it doesn't get any easier over the years. Sometimes I know several weeks ahead of time that terminations are coming but can't acknowledge that in any way to other employees. Because of the threat of lawsuits, even (or especially) with blatantly poor performers, the employer must make certain that all protection is in place before the news is handed out. That's my job - to prepare the documentation, to consult with the labor attorney, and to present a business-as-usual face to those on the short list, up until the time that the conference room door closes. And sometimes I feel really awful about the fact that I'm good at doing this. Tonight this particular employee feels that I helped him out today. Tomorrow he'll know it was false help as I ask him to sign the severance papers. And that's what it's like working in human resources.
This isn't the first time I've been in this position but it doesn't get any easier over the years. Sometimes I know several weeks ahead of time that terminations are coming but can't acknowledge that in any way to other employees. Because of the threat of lawsuits, even (or especially) with blatantly poor performers, the employer must make certain that all protection is in place before the news is handed out. That's my job - to prepare the documentation, to consult with the labor attorney, and to present a business-as-usual face to those on the short list, up until the time that the conference room door closes. And sometimes I feel really awful about the fact that I'm good at doing this. Tonight this particular employee feels that I helped him out today. Tomorrow he'll know it was false help as I ask him to sign the severance papers. And that's what it's like working in human resources.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Book 'em Danno!
I love to read. Surgeons love to cut. Sometimes a surgeon loves to cut and also loves to write, which creates the perfect scenario for a med-surg-groupie-bookworm like me! In fact, I've read more than a few medical memoirs/narratives over the past few months, systematically depleting the inventory available from our tri-county library system - and even purchasing a few which weren't available at the library. (See list on the left!)
All of these books were enjoyable, but 3 are tied for my first place: "Bright Lights, Cold Steel", Dr. Michael Collins, "When the Air Hits Your Brain", Dr. Frank Vertosick, and "Cutting Remarks" Dr. Sidney Schwab. Fortunately this isn't American Idol, so I don't have to vote off two in order to write about one. I like each one for different reasons, but notice that each author is a surgeon - orthopedic surgeon, neuro surgeon, and general surgeon. 3 for 3 - that must mean surgeons are the best writers, which is probably what they think too! Just kidding...or not.
However, it's the general surgeon's book, "Cutting Remarks" which has prompted this post, for several reasons. First of all, Dr. Schwab is also a masterblogger and I visit his site more often than I'd like to admit. (But if my employer ever does a desk-by-desk computer investigation, I'm going to have a lot of 'splaining to do! Even tho HR work can be a pain in the butt, it doesn't really require knowing anything about colon resectioning. But that's not what I'm trying to write about!)
Secondly, the geography in this book is familiar. The other two books are based in Cleveland (or was it Cincinnati?) and the Mayo clinic, but I've never been to either place. Dr. Schwab writes about his time in San Francisco, at UCSF and SF General Hospital. I've driven by both of those many, many times and can picture both the white, shining complex on the hill and the imposing, solid compound on the flats. Although the buildings and the medical procedures have changed, the overall setting is the same and it was intriguing to read of places which I recognize.
Reasons three, four, five, and six will be lumped together in this paragraph. Otherwise,this post may end up longer than the actual book. Three: it's funny in unexpected places. Dr. Schwab's wit is as sharp as his scalpel and seems to be used just about as frequently. Four: it's educational. I now feel so proud of having a beautiful, robins-egg blue gallbladder that I need to take back rude comments I made about that organ in a previous post. Five: it's informative. For instance, my mental pronunciation of mediastinum was all wrong. It's not me-dee-ASS-tin-um as I thought, but me-dia-STY-num. Fortunately, the word hasn't come up yet in conversation so I haven't em-bear-ASS-ed myself. :-) Six: it's honest. While most of the books mention cadaver labs as part of medical training, "Cutting Remarks" is the only one I've read so far that acknowledges animal labs. It may be politically incorrect, but Dr. Schwab provides a realistic view of exactly how surgeons gain the skills they need before approaching a sick or injuried human. Don't be scared off - there are only 2 short mentions, but it was enough to make me aware that none of the other authors were brave enough to include it. Or, maybe it was insignificant to the others.
That leads me, finally, to seven. After I turned the last page I went out to garden, mulling over this piece of writing. My conclusion is that I now have a very good understanding of the difference between an occupation and a profession. And of the difference between someone who practices a profession and someone who IS that profession - Dr. Schwab removes his surgical mask and allows his readers into the inner core of a surgeon. He has the soul of a surgeon, not just head, hands, and heart. The nuns who taught me early in life would call it a vocation. Others might call it centered. I call it very fortunate for those who were his patients over the years.
Conclusion: Book highly recommended. Not to read it might be called a crime.
San Francisco has changed in many ways though, since the 1970's when Dr. Schwab trained there. A surgeon who cuts his finger to the bone while in a patients' abdomen today will be worried about much more than losing the case to another surgeon. It was strange to read this story, and realize that HIV/AIDS had not yet started its scorched earth run through the Bay Area. It was also a time before then Governor Ronald Reagan closed down the state mental hospitals, in a brilliant budget manuever - thereby releasing thousands of mentally ill to counties and cities ill equipped to treat them. The street corners of SF and the ER at SF General reflect the long-term repercussions of that decision, with a large population of homeless, substance abusing mentally ill and inadequate resources for treatment and/or housing. On the other hand, some things haven't changed in SF, as MUNI vs Pedestrian continues on a weekly basis!
All of these books were enjoyable, but 3 are tied for my first place: "Bright Lights, Cold Steel", Dr. Michael Collins, "When the Air Hits Your Brain", Dr. Frank Vertosick, and "Cutting Remarks" Dr. Sidney Schwab. Fortunately this isn't American Idol, so I don't have to vote off two in order to write about one. I like each one for different reasons, but notice that each author is a surgeon - orthopedic surgeon, neuro surgeon, and general surgeon. 3 for 3 - that must mean surgeons are the best writers, which is probably what they think too! Just kidding...or not.
However, it's the general surgeon's book, "Cutting Remarks" which has prompted this post, for several reasons. First of all, Dr. Schwab is also a masterblogger and I visit his site more often than I'd like to admit. (But if my employer ever does a desk-by-desk computer investigation, I'm going to have a lot of 'splaining to do! Even tho HR work can be a pain in the butt, it doesn't really require knowing anything about colon resectioning. But that's not what I'm trying to write about!)
Secondly, the geography in this book is familiar. The other two books are based in Cleveland (or was it Cincinnati?) and the Mayo clinic, but I've never been to either place. Dr. Schwab writes about his time in San Francisco, at UCSF and SF General Hospital. I've driven by both of those many, many times and can picture both the white, shining complex on the hill and the imposing, solid compound on the flats. Although the buildings and the medical procedures have changed, the overall setting is the same and it was intriguing to read of places which I recognize.
Reasons three, four, five, and six will be lumped together in this paragraph. Otherwise,this post may end up longer than the actual book. Three: it's funny in unexpected places. Dr. Schwab's wit is as sharp as his scalpel and seems to be used just about as frequently. Four: it's educational. I now feel so proud of having a beautiful, robins-egg blue gallbladder that I need to take back rude comments I made about that organ in a previous post. Five: it's informative. For instance, my mental pronunciation of mediastinum was all wrong. It's not me-dee-ASS-tin-um as I thought, but me-dia-STY-num. Fortunately, the word hasn't come up yet in conversation so I haven't em-bear-ASS-ed myself. :-) Six: it's honest. While most of the books mention cadaver labs as part of medical training, "Cutting Remarks" is the only one I've read so far that acknowledges animal labs. It may be politically incorrect, but Dr. Schwab provides a realistic view of exactly how surgeons gain the skills they need before approaching a sick or injuried human. Don't be scared off - there are only 2 short mentions, but it was enough to make me aware that none of the other authors were brave enough to include it. Or, maybe it was insignificant to the others.
That leads me, finally, to seven. After I turned the last page I went out to garden, mulling over this piece of writing. My conclusion is that I now have a very good understanding of the difference between an occupation and a profession. And of the difference between someone who practices a profession and someone who IS that profession - Dr. Schwab removes his surgical mask and allows his readers into the inner core of a surgeon. He has the soul of a surgeon, not just head, hands, and heart. The nuns who taught me early in life would call it a vocation. Others might call it centered. I call it very fortunate for those who were his patients over the years.
Conclusion: Book highly recommended. Not to read it might be called a crime.
San Francisco has changed in many ways though, since the 1970's when Dr. Schwab trained there. A surgeon who cuts his finger to the bone while in a patients' abdomen today will be worried about much more than losing the case to another surgeon. It was strange to read this story, and realize that HIV/AIDS had not yet started its scorched earth run through the Bay Area. It was also a time before then Governor Ronald Reagan closed down the state mental hospitals, in a brilliant budget manuever - thereby releasing thousands of mentally ill to counties and cities ill equipped to treat them. The street corners of SF and the ER at SF General reflect the long-term repercussions of that decision, with a large population of homeless, substance abusing mentally ill and inadequate resources for treatment and/or housing. On the other hand, some things haven't changed in SF, as MUNI vs Pedestrian continues on a weekly basis!
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