Arrogant Self-Reliance

..at times I almost dream
I, too, have spent a life the sages' way,
And tread once more familiar paths. Perchance
I perished in an arrogant self-reliance
Ages ago; and in that act, a prayer
For one more chance went up so earnest, so
Instinct with better light let in by death,
That life was blotted out-not so completely
But scattered wrecks enough of it remain,
Dim memories, as now, when once more seems
The goal in sight again...

-Robert Browning
-Paracelsus

This kind of prose, I miss. It has been a long time since I have read a book of prose. Funny thing, I heard this excerpt in an episode of The X-Files called “The Field Where I Died.” This are the types of prose I missed reading since I was in high school. Thoreau, Emerson, and Browning would seem to occupy the whole Sunday Afternoon devouring their words of inspiration. Moreover, I have to read the Philippine Daily Inquirer, where we only buy the Sunday paper because of budget constraints.

Now, it seems that I have to adapt to the current generation today. Arguably, this is a generation where attention span is on its lowest of supply. In fact, MySpace seems to celebrate the plummeting of America’s attention span. MySpace TV recently released the Minisode network wherein it showcases the TV shows you love, only shorter. For instance, an episode of Partridge Family- See Here, Private Partridge- is shortened to a length of 4 minutes and 26 seconds. This would seem to bridge the gap of older generations who has a long attention span and new generation who has a short attention span.

One can infer that one of the purposes of the Minisodes is to have the older generation’s attention at par with the decreasing and mediocre attention span of the younger generation.

Mass Media must conform to the needs of society. Hence, if all people have short attention span, the forms of entertainment must be short and concise. There is no need to lament the plummeting attention span. It is one of the “COOLEST” traits to have.

Back to Browning, I miss those days of reading books in a carefree Sunday afternoons. As I grow older, it seems that I am pre-occupied to the series of tasks that are grown up stuff. The tasks are endless, and I am programmed to finish those, or else, productivity shall fail. I have to work every other weekend on the hospital. Hence, the 26 remaining Sundays would have to be reserved for chores, work, and schoolwork.

Perhaps, I am in the state of arrogant self-reliance. I now rely on unfinished tasks to control my weekend route. However, such arrogant self-reliance can also be used to deter the goals of minisodes and the evils of a decreased attention span.

Source:

Wrinkles and Reality

Wrinkles and Reality

It is with utmost ambivalence that I welcome the coming of age: the quarter of a century. Last year was denial. This is it is ambivalence. I am not sure if aging is a good thing. When I was little, I visualize myself to be a working professional, but I did not envision myself to have wrinkles. There are prominent wrinkles now on my forehead, and it seems premature because I am only turning 25.

When one laments how the generation today has erosion of values, it is a sign of getting older. “There is nothing new in the world, except the history you do not know,” as Harry Truman puts it. It would seem that my perception changes and social ills remain constant. For instance, the notion those corporations appear to be the collective few who win in real life. The world seems to be run by marketing.

Sometimes, it is reasonable to deduce that wrinkles are proportional to the realities a person may encounter. Like wrinkles, realities are visceral and palpable. Wrinkles are comforting and constant reminders that a person is aging. The inevitable and inescapable reality, when one is reminiscing the good old days, it just means that a person is getting older.

Affirmatively, there are methods to hide wrinkles. In reality, such action only proves that the more we hide wrinkles and reality, the more these viscerally palpable entities would persist.

Reality creation varies from place to place, even from country to country. One reality I learn living in the USofA: happiness tends to be materialistic in the land of the free and home of the brave. This claim hinges on the fact that lifestyle is regimented to work and compensation. I always find myself desiring new gadgets after a hard day’s work, and when new gadgets are purchased, I am in bliss. This is how the definition of drastically changes.

People might say that these musings are just misdirection from a wrinkled forehead. Maybe I am docile to regimen, but oblivious to the bigger picture.

The cynic birthday celebrator may borrow the words of Jerry Seinfeld: "Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year has gone by and how little we've grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake, we know it's not to be, that for the rest of our sad, wretched pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably, irrevocably; happy birthday? No such thing."

The ambivalence regarding birthdays and aging may flummox wrinkles and realities.

De-fueling

De-fueling

Sometimes, I find myself in an array of disillusionment. Anticipating things to happen the way I visualize them to happen, and then alas… it was another disappointment.

Recent news regarding fuel alternative is on the hot seat, specifically, ethanol. After the documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth”, a clamor for nature loving and gas saving groups take on the stage. Back to the disillusionment, there is a research by Mark Jacobson from Stanford University that ethanol poses greater risk to people with respiratory diseases as opposed to gasoline.

According to Jacobson’s report, “under the base-case emission scenario derived, which accounted for projected improvements in gasoline and E85 vehicle emission controls, it was found that E85 may increase ozone-related mortality, hospitalization and asthma by about nine percent in Los Angeles and four percent in the U.S. as a whole relative to 100 percent gasoline.” If there is such risk, it is reasonable to search for other alternative.

What I don’t understand is that there seems to be viable alternative for fuel. Daniel Dingel, a Filipino inventor, claims that he runs his car with water for more than three decades now. “. An article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer said that Dingle built his engine as early as 1969. Dingel built a car reactor that uses electricity from a 12-volt car battery to split the ordinary tap water into hydrogen and oxygen components.” People would suspect conspiracy among oil producing countries. There is less publicity in this issue, and lack of acknowledgment of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines can affirm such suspicion.

An inner cynic in oneself would hold onto the reality that the world seems to be run by greedy government enterprises. As a result, ordinary citizens can be disenfranchised of having their nature-loving and global-warming-hating ideals. Acting on those ideals may just result in anticipating disillusionment.

“The free energy world is a magnet for scams and gouging because there is so much money to be made in the free energy field when it finally breaks forth with a marketable product that will eventually replace most of the trillion-dollar petroleum and nuclear industry. The scamsters are not a reflection of the science, but of greed."

-- Sterling D. Allan
Feb. 1, 2003

Sources:

Stanford Daily

TxtMania

Nurse Scapegoats: Why are they important?

Nurse Scapegoats: Why are they important?

One of the most interesting cultures in nursing is scapegoating. One would say that this subculture would cause enchantment to the scapegoater and scapegoatee. According to the Scapegoat Society, “Scapegoating is a hostile social - psychological discrediting routine by which people move blame and responsibility away from themselves and towards a target person or group. It is also a practice by which angry feelings and feelings of hostility may be projected, via inappropriate accusation, towards others. The target feels wrongly persecuted and receives misplaced vilification, blame and criticism; he is likely to suffer rejection from those who the perpetrator seeks to influence.” In the healthcare industry, it is inevitable to deviate from standards of care and leadership. Scapegoating is one of the best ways to relieve the blame from oneself and blame the most vilifiable group. Such process is important to people in the places of position and leadership. It is also important to patients and nurses. Hence, it is reasonable to say that the role of nurses as scapegoats is vital.

One may have heard the expression of nurses eating their young. Nurses scapegoating on other nurses are also indispensable and irreplaceable part of the profession. For instance, the PICC line of a patient clogged. One of the many reasons of a clogged line is forgetting flushes on 10 cc saline. If the nurse has a preceptee, the most likely to be blamed is the preceptee instead of the nurse also assigned to the patient. The process of scapegoating is essential in this situation because this would mean that the fault is of the preceptee and not the preceptor. The preceptee must expect an incident report write-up. Since scapegoating would protect the more experienced RN and would transfer the blame to the preceptee, it is reasonable to say that the role of nurses as scapegoats is important.

One use of scapegoating is by physicians. For instance, when the equipment such as chairs, tables are inadequate in a unit, nurses would be the scapegoats. When the equipment is inadequate, the physicians will have no space to sit down and write orders. As a result, the physicians are outraged by the scarcity of chairs and blame the nurses. This is where it becomes creative. The physicians would argue that there is no space to sit down because the nurses are chitchatting and invading their space in the unit. Discredit the name: “nurses’ station.” The physicians have to write orders. This situation proves the role of nurses as scapegoats is important. In this process, the administration has not supplied enough chairs and enough workplace. As a strategy, such inadequacy must be distorted and the blame must be transferred. The nurses chitchatting would be the best rationale for not having enough work space and chairs. This seems to be a brilliant and methodical. Hence, it is reasonable to say that the role of nurses as scapegoats is important.

It is not just the people from the higher ups had perfected the craft of nurse scapegoating, but also the patient themselves. After the nurse has done the hardwork in maintaining the standards of care and working professionally for their therapeutic recovery, one can say that one appreciative token would be to blame the nurses for any inadequacy. For instance, the family of the patient cannot accept the new diagnosis of an ailment. The most likely tendency is to project those ill feelings so that the family and the patient can cope. Projection is one of the components of nurse scapegoating. Since nurse scapegoating will likely help the patient in coping, it is reasonable to say the nurses are helping unconsciously in the process. Hence, it is reasonable to say that the role of nurses as scapegoats is important.

No matter what, it would seem viable that scapegoating is essential to institution. Especially in an industry where fault and errors should be minimal, this would justify the subculture of scapegoating. Hence, it is reasonable that the role of nurses as scapegoats is important.

Work Cited:

The Scapegoat Society

Greatness in Diminishing Returns

Greatness in Diminishing Returns

People may have heard of useless greatness. For instance, when a person is too tall to play basketball; it is another way of saying does not play basketball at all. Sun Ming Ming is a basketball player, who is, arguably has the so called greatness in diminishing returns. Josh Levin argues: “He's probably the first basketball player who's too tall to play basketball.”

Standards of greatness are ostensibly arbitrary. People’s description of greatness is attributed to the capability to do one’s shortcomings. In a sense, greatness is commercialized. Businesses seem to capitalize on the allusion of greatness. What is wrong with being number two?

As aspirants to any field, many seem to ignore the fact that talents are distributed unequally. There would be the famous and the infamous. Scarcity of jobs and unemployment would remain. Coming from a third world country (and I am proud of it), this is the reality; A reality in which I became de-sensitized.

Once a person has been exposed to a reality in which no matter where people go, there will always be a person who is smarter and greater than you, no matter what you do. There is the lingering discontent and utter frustration that may emanate you. As an observer of educational institutions, they try to conceal the reality that greatness will always be overthrown by another person. Students come with the idealism that after they study in such institution, unemployment and joblessness would be exclusion to their career.

Furthermore, greatness is paired with uniqueness. When one would say that everybody is unique, it is another way of saying that no one is unique. I would say that greatness and uniqueness relative notions. Perception must take over reality in order to define these terms.

Back to the introduction, Levin proposes that Sun Ming Ming can be called greatness in diminishing returns. I think that he maybe correct or not. William Shakespeare puts greatness as: “"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Well, this quotation summarizes that greatness is distributed unequally. Hence, the unequal distribution of talents does not trivialize greatness in diminishing returns; instead, such inequality explains it.

Work Cited:

Slate.com

In the Eyes of Ekang

In the Eyes of Ekang

Kara David, a journalist, hosts this episode of I-Witness. I have to comment on her writing style especially how contrast makes the introduction of the documentary “Sa Mata ni Ekang” thought provoking. She started on the family as the basic unit of society. Moreover, she seemed to ask a rhetorical question. What would happen if the light, guide, and the foundation of a home would be a hold upper, pimp, shabu runner, and an out of school youth? The documentary seems to expose how commonplace is poverty in the Manila slums. As a result, the morality compass would lean on “just doing a job” to provide scarce basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.

Aristotle states: “The mother of revolution and crime is poverty.” This assertion rings its veracity like a liberty bell. In regard to the documentary, poverty in the Philippines seems to trap its citizens to a life of survival instead of opportunities. The reason I liked the documentary is its truthful exposition. Not all news is good news, and it is the duty of the journalist to convey the truth, no matter how flagrant.

In the US, my powers observations try to differentiate poverty from the Philippines between the US. I know it may seem a futile attempt for comparison; however, I have to communicate noticeable difference. I do not remember the source of this story, but it tells about a beggar who was panhandling for food. The commuter tried to give a bowl of salad. The beggar vehemently refuses and says: “I am on a high protein diet.”

The moment I heard the story, I want to tell the panhandler: “Beggars can’t be choosers!!!!!!!” I could not imagine such refusal.

Back to the Ekang introduction, I want to share that poverty creates a reality. Realities often have different versions, especially, when comparing a third world country to a first class one. I am not ashamed that I came from a third world country. I appreciate what I have now, and share some of the perks of being here. What I don’t usually get is how the US generates a lot of waste that when converted to a monetary value, it can help a third world country.

Food waste alone is such a surprising statistics. Food policy Institute states: “Federal statistics suggest that nearly 26 million tons of food wastes are generated annually in the U.S.” Had people been conserving and only eating what is enough, such wastes could have been converted to a monetary value. It may help the destitute, especially the Ekangs of the Philippines.

Work Cited

Food Waste Management

I-Witness the GMA documentaries

Sneaky Enterprise

Sneaky Enterprise

I usually listen to podcasts on my way to work. I came across a podcast from “Studio 360.” The topic was about American Icons. During that week, Superman, as an icon was the feature. Most parts of the show talked about the origins of Superman. There was even a segment where Superman is compared to the Exodus. Exodus is a chapter in the bible where baby Moses was escaping and let sail through the river by a crib made of leaves. The comparison with Superman was Kal-El (Superman’s native name in Krypton) escaped through Krypton by a high tech crib that blasted on Smallville.

One remarkable part of the show was how the lives of Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster were manipulated by greedy businessmen in D.C. Comics. Siegel and Schuster created Superman. A biographer said that Superman was the consummation of their personalities. They were described as pop culture geeks during their teenage years. All they really have was their imagination during their adolescent years.

Jerry Siegel’s father died because of a shooting. The powers of Superman being indestructible by anything, even by bullets, are relatable in Siegel’s way of working through the pain of his father’s death. The adventures of Superman seem to be the creator’s way of saying if they only knew that we have more potential than this.

Siegel and Schuster sold the rights of Superman to D.C. comics for $10 a page, $130 total. Today, the market value would be around $2,000. The creators were so idealistic, and all they wanted to do was to tell and illustrate the stories of Superman. Little do they know that Superman will be a legendary icon?

During the 1950s, Siegel and Schuster tried to sue for ownership of Superman. They lost.

The Richard Donner film Superman in 1978 grossed $134218018. During that time, Siegel was working as a file clerk. It seems ironic that the Superman creators are living in the poverty, while greedy businessmen are reaping the benefits of their creation. Siegel and Schuster led the lives of artistry and idealism, only to be spoiled and exploited by moguls and conglomerates.

Perhaps, this is the side of the story that the media would not like the Smallville generations to dwell or know. This is the side where businesses get dirty, wherein exploitation and misuse of power are common societal and business creed. Joe Schuster died in 1992. Jerry Siegel died in 1996.

Boxoffice Mojo said that the total gross of Superman Returns: $200081192.

Work Cited:

Jewish Virtual Library

Boxoffice Mojo

Borderless Boredom

Borderless Boredom

I heard on the radio about theatrical plays. For instance, there is a 14-day run of a certain play. A performer should act the same way with the same feelings like the first night for the 14 consecutive days. I say to myself that this is a hard job.

After some rumination, I came to the conclusion that repetition robs the enthusiasm. One cannot promise to deliver the same emotions if the same lines are delivered for 14 consecutive nights. Looking forward, one can ague that this can be applicable also for people having jobs.

One veteran nurse told me that after 3 years, you will find nursing as the same old routine. The phrase: “Same script, different cast,” would beckon everyday as you do medication administration and clinical nursing care. When repetition robs the enthusiasm, an RN may not be fascinated with the science of nursing. He will only be fascinated with the monetary remuneration of the job.

Bertrand Russell justifies: “Boredom is a vital problem of the moralist, since at least half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it.” Arguably, this quotation may be very applicable and a hurtful truth about humanity. Boredom because of repetition may bring an employee to an unfortunate scenario: absenteeism, harsh novelty and mindless adventures.

When I was taking a boring subject back in school (although I am back to school again as of press time), people say that boring subjects/class tests character. In the near future, one might have a repetitive job and he would look back to the boring class he had. Right there, an epiphany would occur and say that most things are on relative degrees and coping with boredom can be the best solution.

As working professionals, they are all learning the ropes. An unfortunate consequence about learning is repetitive routine. Hence, when one finds himself on a boring situation, just look back on the boring class one took, and try to remember how he survive such class.

Digression I

Most of the blog entries I wrote can be deemed to have serious tangential themes. This time, I took the liberty to digress once in a while. Below are forwarded text messages about objects (inanimate or animate) having their own concerns.The quotations are in Filipino, perhaps to retain its humor.

"pinapaikot mo lang ako

Sawang sawa na ako. Mabuti pa

patayin mo na lang ako!!!"

-electric fan

______________________________

"hindi lahat ng walang salawal

ay bastos"

-winnie d' pooh

______________________________

"Alam mo ba wala akong ibang hinangad

kundi ang mapalapit sa iyo.

pero patuloy ang pag-iwas mo"

-ipis

______________________________

"Hala! sige magpakasasa ka!

Alam ko namang katawan ko lang ang

habol mo."

-hipon

______________________________

"Ayoko na! pag nagmamahal ako lagi na

lang

maraming tao ang nagagalit! wala ba

akong

karapatang magmahal?!?"

-gasolina

______________________________

"Hindi lahat ng green ay masustansya."

-plema

______________________________

"Hindi ko hinahangad na ipagmalaki mo

na ako'y sau

ayoko ko lang naman na sa harap ng

maraming tao

ganun mo na lang ako itanggi.."

-utot

______________________________

"Sawang sawa na ako palagi nalang akong

pinagpapasa-pasahan, pagod na pagod na

ako."

-Bola

______________________________

"you never know what you have

till you lose it.

and once you lose it, you can never

get it back"

-snatcher

______________________________

"Hindi lahat ng pink, KIKAY!"

-majinboo

______________________________

"Ginawa ko naman lahat para sumaya ka

mahirap ba talagang makontento sa isa?

bakit palipat-lipat ka?

-TV

______________________________

"hindi lahat ng maasim may vitamin c"

-kili kili

______________________________

pilitin mo man na alisin ako sa buhay

mo, babalik at babalik ako!

-libag

______________________________

Anung kasalanan ko sayo, iniwan m

nalang akong duguan...

-Napkin

______________________________

"wag mo na nga akong bilugin!"

-kulangot

______________________________

Paano tayo makakabuo kung hindi ako

papatong sa iyo?

-Lego

______________________________

Punyetang Buhay to! Itlog itlog! Araw2

na lang itlog!

-Brief

______________________________

Wala naman akong ginawa sa kanya!

Hindi na nga ako gumalaw

dito.

Ako n nga yun ntapakan, sya pa un

galit.. bakit ganun?

-Tae

______________________________

Cge kalimutan mo ako para malaman ng

iba ang baho mo!

-deodorant

______________________________

"hindi lahat ng dugo puedeng idonate"

-regla

______________________________

Hindi lahat ng hinog, matamis...

- pigsa

When Clever goes Cliché…

When Clever goes Cliché…

It was the usual jaded cynicism that forces people to be resistant to new ideas. One possible reason is ideas have the risk of traversing the clever to cliché path. And when clever goes cliché, no one would seem to want to convey an idea. I made a blog entry: “Panhandling: Baby Shower Universe.” It communicates how a baby shower registry can be misguided. However, last week, I follow the step by step instructions of a baby shower registry, an action contrary to the views I made on the entry.

As far as conformity goes, this can be one of the pitfalls an idea can go through. People want to be different, but not that different, or else labels such as “nonconformist,” and “antisocial” would hemorrhage into your path.

This is one of the ways that an idea can live. Another way would be ideas can be legislated and censored unreasonably. An example would be the term called “infotainment.” From what I observed, the broadcast journalism that is practice here tends to have a goal give the people what they want, in the expense of a guided and methodical idea flourishing. News networks today are own by Corporate Conglomerates which means business. And when nonconformist ideas are reasonably good but bad for business, such idea is censored or killed from the moment of conception. An example of ideas being censored unreasonably is when David E. Kelley, “Boston Legal” creator had a hard time getting approval for the script mentioning Fox News because this news show mostly communicates overly patriotic themes.

Resistance to new ideas can be a threat to freedom of expression. When freedom of expression would meet its demise, it is reasonable to view people as automatons, submissive to the dictates of customs and consumerism.

As mentioned above, these are the two paths an idea can travel, clever to cliché and legislated and censored. Both seem to be risky, but rather take the risk than to defy the ideas’ purpose: inform and educate.

When October Goes

When October Goes

October 2006 is nearing its twilight time. Although for the past few days, there have not been any remarkable happenings; I would like to pay tribute to the twilight of what I consider a favorable month. October has been one of my favorite months because this beckons the nearing months of winter, a prelude per se. I made myself explicitly clear regarding the aversion towards summer sunshine (please see previous posts).

My co-workers stressed that the Fall Season is one of the busiest seasons in the hospital. It is the time when flu shots and MRSA rule. This means many people in isolated rooms. People are familiar with flu, regarding MRSA: it is called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is a specific strain of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance to all penicillins, including methicillin and other narrow-spectrum β-lactamase-resistant penicillin antibiotics. MRSA was first discovered in the UK in 1961 and is now widespread, particularly in the hospital setting where it is commonly termed a superbug.” In other words, it can be considered as an un-welcomed houseguest in people’s bodies that no matter how many series of antibiotics a person ingest, it has a lingering pestilence. Hence, it was given the term “superbug.”

I am still not sure why I consider October a favorable month when I equated it to the pestilence of bacteria. Although more hospital admits would have a correlation to the MRSA and season, and would be directly remunerative to me, other than that, I find October only a prelude to holidays: Native American Oppression Day (others call it thanksgiving), Christmas and New Year.

The view that October is just like a cold spring season can also be correct. Because of global warming nowadays, such view seems to be negated. Ninety degrees Fahrenheit near the coastal area is not uncommon. In fact, David Korten in his book "The Great Turning," affirms: “If global warming triggers devastating climate change and disrupts world agriculture, financial markets will also react severely. It will be "the mother of all market corrections.”

I guess that the notion of old fashioned October when the temperature is on the high 60s and low 70s would endear this month to most people. And when October goes, what goes usually are its disadvantages: flu season, MRSA, disrupted weather (due to global warming), and what stays are the chilliness of autumn and the constancy of fleeting seasons.

Work Cited:

Wikipedia MRSA

David Korten “The Great Turning”

Blogger’s note: Although the title is similar to a title track from a Barry Manilow’s album 2:00 AM Paradise Café, such similarity is coincidental.

Letters, Storms, and Intertropical Convergence Zones

Letters, Storms, and Intertropical Convergence Zones

It was one of the rainiest mornings. A Friday in October when gloom enveloped the atmosphere. A time when the northeast trade winds meet the southeast trade winds. It was an unusually cold morning for a country consumed by tropical heat. An occurrence which can demand reverence from its entirety. Heavy precipitations prevailed. It flooded most parts of Region 3 and Region 4 and Metro Manila. Most AM radios are blaring, while students are eagerly waiting for the DECS announcement: “classes suspended.”

The final judgment for class suspension was made. On the other hand, I worry that I won’t be able to complete my college application. It lacked one requirement: a recommendation letter. I said to myself, this is my future. If I don’t handle this now, how can I handle the potential responsibility of being a college student? Then, I was moping around for 2 hours.

In some sleight of luck, phone lines are still working. With all the impending dilemma and misery going through my mind, such misery would love company. I reached out for the telephone, with all fervent hope that I can find a person with the same dilemma.

Coincidence. Concurrence. Synchronicity. I found out my friend and I had a mutual concern. Discussions went on, until we came to a collaborative conclusion. We have to get those letters because the application deadline is two days from today. Another blessing was bestowed upon us. The recommendation letters are ready to be picked up in school.

I remember it took me a while to hail a jeepney. The reason was not jeepneys were full. The reason was not that I was picky. The reason was there was only minimal public transportation willing to face gusts of wind going at about 90 kph. Most of the houses were flooded. I did not see any bystanders nearby. Mostly, I saw branches of trees falling off as if being pulled by mighty winds, and plants arguably brimming with raindrops of delight.

I got to school safely. Malolos was like a ghost town. I did not see any street vendors and panhandlers. The stores were closed. It reminded me, I didn’t see my friend. I said to myself: if you ever ditch me, it would really be raining cats and dogs. Brawling animals were off my mind when I saw him arrived. Then we got our corresponding recommendation letters.

I do not recall any vivid observations on the way back home. I was just too relieved that I would be able to complete my college application for De La Salle University. And of course, my friend did not ditch me and went through the madness of traversing a storm just to be with each others company for the sake of recommendation letters.

Blogger’s note: I tried to have a picturesque narrative for one of my fondest memory, in terms of school and friendship. This was also germane to the friendster testimonial I received.

Occupational Hazards

Occupational Hazards

Gradually, most of the things that my preceptor told me ever since I was a nursing student are starting to sink in. Being in one of the most litigious State in the country, it is imperative to be vigilant and watch every nursing intervention and nursing documentation. In lieu of being vigilant, taking care of oneself would also be imperative.

As a nursing student before, I have heard of tales of nurses injuring themselves in the line of duty: needle sticks, pulling up a muscle or tendon, fracturing an arm etc. The US Department of Labor research says: “In 2004, 54 percent of workplace injuries and illnesses among nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides were musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The U.S. Department of Labor defines a musculoskeletal disorder as an injury or disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, or spinal discs. These disorders are related to events such as bodily reaction, overexertion, and repetitive motion and do not include injuries caused by slips, trips, falls, motor vehicle accidents, or similar accidents. Also, we have been told before that Workers Compensation seems to be not fully dependable. To make things worse, investigators for workers compensation would deduce the incident to make it seem like the injured nurses fault.

This would bring me to the premise: this country can be called a nation of finger pointers. The system some agencies used is to try point blame to the victim. The mantra seems to be: deny everything and save the collective and corporate asses. This can be a well known policy some companies are trying to glorify and implement.

As a closing point, constant vigilance is vital to workers. There are so many occupational hazards out there, and when injury happens to the worker, the only thing that is secure is the corporate policy some agencies practice: “Deny everything and shift the blame.” Workers can be both the victims and the evildoers.

Work Cited:

U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Downside of Premature Application

The Downside of Premature Application

I am recently attending the RN Residency Program at work. One recurring topic that the instructors delve upon is assertiveness. “Assertiveness is the ability to express yourself and your rights without violating the rights of others. It is appropriately direct, open, and honest communication which is self-enhancing and expressive.” I have no objection that such notion is constantly being ingrained to us. In fact, there is a connotation that nurses are passive, and assertiveness is some instances are very much vital.

Arguably, I am opposed to the notion of pseudo-assertiveness. Pseudo assertiveness would fall on the category of situations not requiring assertiveness, but people are doing it anyway so as to have a story in the debriefing session of the RN Residency Program, as applied to its attendees. I would call it as a gray are in being assertive and aggressive.

For the purpose of example and not for the purpose of full disclosure, there was one attendee who would fall into the category of pseudo-assertiveness. An RN orientee made a big deal about a Respiratory Therapist mistaking her for a student, and not as an RN. Then, she delivered a spiel: “I am an RN now, and not my preceptor’s student.” She considered it as an act of assertiveness. Not to burst her bubble, I would say that the mistake was an honest one, and would not warrant a very remarkable and assertive correction.

One of the pitfalls of having a well-appreciated concept (in this case, assertiveness) in the class is to have a premature application. This is an appeal to my fellow attendees of the RN Residency Program. I suppose it would be more appropriate if we would apply the concepts that we learned based on its needs, and not based on the whimper of a suggestion. Arguably, people will eventually detect what is a genuine assertive experience as opposed to whimper crazed-driven pseudo assertiveness.

Now that I have used the word “assertive” and its derivatives more than 4 times in this entry, I hereby pronounced thee as a commonplace word.

Blog Statistics

Thank you for all the readers/subscribers of my blog: Suppose, Contend, Differentiate. According to my feedburner statistics, there are at least 6 readers/subscribers on average per day. Thank you again, and I would need your feedback and comments. The comments section on my blogger is open to all. On the "Choose an identity" part, please choose "Other" and/or "Anonymous" instead of "blogger." Then, it would let you post your comments. Above is the graph showing the statistics from Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - Saturday, July 22, 2006

Discomfort Zone Disrupted

Discomfort Zone Disrupted

One might say that this entry sounds like constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. I assure the readers that it is not. Not to burst the bubble of gastrointestinal discomfort fans, such topics shall be discussed on future entries.

Partly, the NPR radio essay “This I Believe: Disrupting the Comfort Zone” as narrated by Brian Grazer, producer of A Beautiful Mind , "Friday Night Lights, "East of Eden” and more, inspired this entry. In a gist, the radio essay talked about subjecting oneself (Grazer) to the point of humiliation by a physicist just to have his comfort zone disrupted.

I agree to some parts of the radio essay, but one can say that if there is a comfort zone, there can be a discomfort zone. For instance, a discomfort zone is for some people to talk about their insecurities in public. It would be an awkward scenario, but can be simply satisfying. I guess that this example is a simplistic one. Some might argue that discomfort zones can range from the darkest of hearts to the sweetest taboo.

People will subject themselves to any violation of decency. Most people shall associate themselves to the extent of having criminal minds. Inadvertently, the very process mentioned is disrupting the discomfort zones. Conscience would paint a decency violation like a discomfort zone, but people will do it anyway, without remorse to gains or losses.

Arguably, the only thing given importance is comfort: the easy way out. And as for people who have the courage to disrupt the un-confronted, uninhibited, and the darkest of thoughts, it would be a triumph for disrupting the discomfort zone. As Stephen King simply puts: “Time takes it all whether you want it to or not, time takes it all. Time bares it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.”

Panhandling: Baby Shower Universe

Panhandling: Baby Shower Universe

My friend Patricia was talking about her upcoming baby shower that is to occur months from now. She emphasized that she would not engage in any baby shower registry. She claimed that it was a rude practice to command what gifts guests should bring.

I agree with Patricia. Most Americans have this practice of dictatorship. The definition of baby shower is given too much euphemism: A baby shower is a rite of passage in which the parents of a baby arrange and organize to receive gifts and money from their families and friends. (Wikipedia.org). If someone would attend a baby shower, it is mandatory for guests to register what gifts to buy. I would suppose that this is one of the discrete ways to panhandle, or to beg. The very action of requiring gifts to guests seems to be an act of desperation, because the parents can not provide, their friends and families would provide.

It is the responsibility of the prospective parents to provide what the baby needs. As I have contended, Americans oftentimes prefer euphemisms. They would say baby shower, instead of panhandling. Panhandling is defined as: “to accost on the street and beg from.” The difference seems to be negligible.

That is why I agree with Patricia. Baby shower is a backward tradition that seems to undermine the ability of prospective parents to provide for their own baby. It clumps on the solidarity banner of family and friends. Arguably, it (baby shower registry) is a tradition for parasites, and I am glad that my friend vehemently shuns this backward tradition.

Pinoy Phonies

Pinoy Phonies

The topic that I may raise would seem volatile to some readers, specifically to some ‘balikbayans’ and compatriots. After living for almost 5 years now in the US, I noticed some misguided beliefs had developed for some Pinoys here in the US. I can only wonder what the sources of these misguided values were, and I would only cringe when my fellow Filipinos live up to the beliefs in question.

The show Wowowee! seems to be a perfect example of a Pinoy phony deception. There is a portion in the show where balikbayans would give away dollar bills to our compatriots in need. This is predicated that it would help our destitute “kababayans” This action seems plausible. The show is even regarded as a tourist attraction, which is good for a third world economy. However, what my fellow balikbayans inadvertently do is advocating the so-called “beggar culture. The very action of giving away dollar bills would also attached the nirvana perception that “money grows on trees,” here in the US. Some people would oppose the “beggar culture” because it promotes complacency. A Juan dela Cruz may think Filipinos in the US have lots of money, and he would just wait for the aid and charity. The perception “money grows on trees” here in the US would be hard to uproot from some Juan dela Cruz. The peso devaluation and the show Wowowee! seem to advocate this kind of Pinoy phony deception.

Another Pinoy phony deception is Fil-Am speech. This gets into my nerves a lot. What seems to be the problem is that some Pinoys find their mother language unappealing. As a result, they would try to “American –ized” most Filipino words. It seems a little bit hard to describe it in writing, but when you have time, go to Seafood City and just listen to the chatter of fellow Pinoys, you would really hear the very bad combination of “Tag-glish.”

Some Pinoys can lay claim that they speak Tagalog imperfectly, because they got used to the English language. Unfortunately, the English language they always refer to is English slang. .For instance, some of the most common English slang/ ebonics that most Pinoys emulate:

• “We will not go here no more.”
• “I ain’t gonna not pay for that.”

This seems to be a problem because the usage of English slang often denotes unsatisfactory knowledge of the language. If most Pinoys would live up adapt this kind of language, at the extreme of renouncing their mother language, they would end up not proficient in both languages. As I have emphasized on the last paragraph, some Fil-Am speakers just pretend to be inarticulate in Tagalog, because they find the latter unappealing.

I will have more Pinoy phonies entries. This is the first in the set.

Post-Birthday Denial

Post-Birthday Denial

I seem to be in a state of disarray after my birthday. One of the reasons is I am in denial of my age. For some twisted logic, I kept convincing myself that I am 20. I know I am not, but I still feel 20. Some people would contend (especially Erik Erikson) that I may not be fulfilling the developmental tenets that he proposed. With all due respect to the advocates of the developmental milestones, I am an ardent supporter of people staying young at heart.

Moreover, I quit my hospital job. Although quitting denotes a negative definition, I already applied to another facility which I will be starting also as an RN. Certain factors compelled me to quit. I may be on the verge of a burnout. Add to that, the 72 miles I have to travel everyday to go work. Hence, in order to prevent a foreseeable burnout, quitting the first hospital job was necessary.

I will be a hypocrite if I would say: “I never really liked the first hospital.” However, I am a pragmatist by default. As I have said, quitting was necessary.

There goes my birthday. Denial. Disarray. Happiness….. Relatively. I bought a DS lite, and I bought a new cellular phone. There, I seem to bask in the heat of materialism.

The Case for Short Words

The Case for Short Words

by Richard Lederer

When you speak and write, there is no law that says you have to use big words. Short words are as good as long ones, and short, old words -- like sun and grass and home -- are best of all. A lot of small words, more than you might think, can meet your needs with a strength, grace, and charm that large words do not have.

Big words can make the way dark for those who read what you write and hear what you say. Small words cast their clear light on big things -- night and day, love and hate, war and peace, and life and death. Big words at times seem strange to the eye and the ear and the mind and the heart. Small words are the ones we seem to have known from the time we were born, like the hearth fire that warms the home.

Short words are bright like sparks that glow in the night, prompt like the dawn that greets the day, sharp like the blade of a knife, hot like salt tears that scald the cheek, quick like moths that flit from flame to flame, and terse like the dart and sting of a bee.

Here is a sound rule: Use small, old words where you can. If a long word says just what you want to say, do not fear to use it. But know that our tongue is rich in crisp, brisk, swift, short words. Make them the spine and the heart of what you speak and write. Short words are like fast friends. They will not let you down.

The title of this article and the four paragraphs that you have just read are wrought entirely of words of one syllable. In setting myself this task, I did not feel especially cabined, cribbed, or confined. In fact, the structure helped me to focus on the power of the message I was trying to put across.

For centuries our finest poets and orators have recognized and employed the power of small words to make a straight point between two minds. A great many of our proverbs punch home their points with pithy monosyllables: “Where there's a will, there's a way,” “A stitch in time saves nine,” “Spare the rod and spoil the child,” “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

The King James Bible is a centerpiece of short words – “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good.”

You too can tap into the vitality and vigor of compact expression. Take a suggestion from the highway department. At the boundaries of your speech and prose place a sign that reads “Caution: Small Words at Work.”

kbps.org