Friday Eye Candy | NSFW

Check 'em out boys.. that is, if you have the balls to do it. But wait until you get home, after work.


Source: MCAC

Transformers Are Fake, Right?

Transformers makes for a great movie to watch, but nothing like that is really possible, right?


Source: Those Crazy Japanese

The Middle-Aged Pharmacist Conundrum

I read a comment in a forgotten pharmacy forum a while back in which a frightened young commenter said that she couldn't think of anything worse than to be a middle-aged pharmacist out there trying to find a job. She said that she would put up with anything in her present position in order to not lose her job and become one of "those" pharmacists.

That comment stuck with me. Not only because of the fear behind it, but because that middle-aged pharmacist, and that same scenario, could easily apply to me.

Now, I'd be lying if I said that there wasn't a little fear behind my decision to quit working in pharmacy, especially since I've been doing it so long and didn't have something else lined up beforehand. There's always that fear of the unknown.

But as time has passed, I've realized that my fear is really unfounded. There's no actual basis for it, it's only in my mind. There's nothing to be afraid of, I've planned and prepared for this time in my life. No matter what happens, I will survive. I've come to learn that fear is no justification for my actions.

So then, why would such a young commenter be so afraid of something 25-years into her future?

Working as a pharmacist, she would be generating a very comfortable income. If she lived below her means, avoided accumulating debt, saved a significant portion of her income and invested it wisely, upon reaching middle-aged she would be in such a safe financial position that fear shouldn't factor into her decision-making. Not being able to find a job at that age would be the least of her worries.

But on the other hand, I've worked with some older pharmacists who lived high on the hog their entire career, thinking that the gravy train would never come to an end. They hadn't prepared themselves for the worst case scenario, and now they're stuck working, not because they want to, but because they think that they have no other choice. Fear guides their actions.

If you haven't noticed, most of the pharmacist crimes that I've reported in my blog or on Twitter, were perpetrated by middle-aged pharmacists, people old enough to know better, but probably willing to do just about anything because they were desperate for money.

It seems to me that those pharmacists' fear of losing the lifestyle they grew accustomed to became greater than the fear of the consequences of crossing over that ethical line.

Perhaps it's one "those" middle-aged pharmacists that the young commenter is afraid of becoming?

But, on the other hand, perhaps "putting up with anything" out of fear could lead a young pharmacist into becoming one of those pharmacists upon reaching middle-age? Something to think about.

But, don't just take my word for it. Watch this hidden video of a middle-aged pharmacist interviewing for a position with a less-than-reputable independent pharmacy owner, and choosing to compromise his ethics during the fifth decade of his life in order to become employed.

Getting Screwed

You know, I've been getting screwed my entire life. So, what's so wrong about getting screwed after I'm dead? It's not like I'm not used to it. IMO, this guy is brilliant. How could you NOT admire him? His idea makes perfect sense, especially after having had a few drinks.


Source: David Friedman Photography

The First Digital Camera

If it weren't for the creative people in this world, we'd never have achieved the technological advances that we take for granted. These geniuses are always ahead of their time. For example, if I was to ask you when the first digital camera was invented, what year would you guess? How about 1975?


Inventor Portrait: Steven Sasson from David Friedman on Vimeo.

INSiDE | A Short Story

Are you still sure that you want to work at the Arizona State Hospital?

You never really know what someone else is thinking. The most innocent looking person can harbor the most diabolical intentions. But, don't just take my word for it. See for yourself.


INSiDE from INSiDE Short on Vimeo.

Finding Benjaman

In 2004, Benjaman Kyle woke up with no identification, no clothes, and no memories. And eight years later, no one, including the United States Government has any idea who he is. So, this Thanksgiving, I'm giving thanks for my memories, as bad as some of them might be.


Source: Finding Benjaman

Happy Thanksgiving

Although I live in Arizona, I'm still thankful for the vast cultural diversity found throughout the State.

We've Passed 437 River Street

I've read a lot of other anonymous pharmacy blogs and I keep running into the same naive belief that our profession is in someway "a brotherhood", a profession in which all pharmacists are altruistically looking out for each other, and the profession as a whole. These bloggers seem to have this fairy-tale optimistic belief that the corporations who control the purse strings think that we're indispensable.

It took some continued reading and investigating over time, but I've come to believe that the people operating these blogs aren't really pharmacists. They might be techs, headhunters, corporate or registry shills trying to manipulate pharmacists to their advantage. But, they're not pharmacists. No pharmacist could be so dumb as to not see what's happening right before their eyes.

Or at least I'd prefer to think so.

If pharmacists were really intent on promoting the profession, covering each others back, and making sure we had a voice in the future of healthcare, our leaders could have put aside their enormous petty egos, refuse to accept third-party money, and gained more power by consolidating the many separate pharmacy organizations into one single representative organization. But, we just couldn't do it.

We didn't understand how pharmacists could've become serious contenders, and now it's too late.

And why is that? According to my experiences, many of our overly-ambitious pharmacy leaders have sadly sold out the young pharmacists for the short-end money, and a one-way ticket to Palookaville.

Nothing To Smile About

Like I discussed a while back, it's going to be an extremely difficult task trying to stop the scourge of synthetic drug abuse. Now there's a new one in the news.. smiles.

[original video link removed by source]

Rise Of The Robots

Should humans brace themselves for a coming ‘robotics revolution’? I think so.

I recently watched The Terminator again on TV last week. More and more, the technology in that film is coming into existence. Think about it. Just a few years ago, most of us never imagined the use of military drones as they're being used today. As rules of engagement continue to change, militaries adapt their tactics to include the increasing use of unmanned weaponry.

However, behind the hot button issue of drones lies a military robotics industry that is developing machinery which is not only finding its way onto the battlefield, but into civilian life, as well.

Robots today have the capability to drive automobiles, perform surgeries, and do household chores, among other tasks. As integration escalates, what legal and ethical issues arise?


Source: Aljazeera, The Stream: Rise of the robots

Dispense Or Not Dispense | What Would You Do?

There were many times in my career while I was working in retail pharmacy when a physician or a dentist presented me with controlled-substance prescription written for himself/herself or a family member, wanting me to fill it for them, and I refused.

In some of those cases, something bad later happened, and subsequent investigations revealed that those physicians or dentists (or their family members) had substance abuse problems and were getting their prescriptions filled at multiple pharmacies in order to hide their problem.

Of course, I learned early that if you're going to refuse to fill a self-prescribed prescription then you're going to get grief from not only the prescriber, but sometimes from your co-workers or supervisors who don't understand (or care about) the potential problems or conflict of interest.

In a couple of instances, I was even reported to the BOP for refusing to fill their prescriptions. States vary in their rules about pharmacists' rights to refuse to fill prescriptions, so I once had to endure a cross-examination to justify my refusal. It was a hassle, but the BOP sided with my actions.

In essence, I refuse to enable another healthcare provider's potential substance abuse problem, or to become indirectly responsible when something bad happens after I filled their prescription. I'm not going to be sucked into any schemes, become part of the problem, and possibly hurt someone.

And the reason that I refuse to fill controlled-substance prescriptions for providers who self-diagnose and self-treat is specifically highlighted in the following video.


Source: 'Doctor of the Year' Arrested on DUI Charges After Crash

What would you do? Would you want to be the pharmacist who filled the prescriber's self-prescribed controlled-substance Rx when something like this happens, and especially if someone is killed?

One Family's Tragic Fungal Meningitis Story

It's one thing to look at the numbers of patients affected by fungal meningitis from the contaminated corticosteroids compounded by NECC. The numbers are staggering.

But, it's truly heartbreaking when you listen to the families of those who died after being injected with those contaminated medications. Then one can come to fully understand why this tragedy needs to be prevented from ever happening again, regardless of any regulatory hardships some compounding pharmacies may have to endure.

Here's a PBS Newshour presentation of one of those patients, Diana Reed, a beautiful 56-year-old Tennessee woman who was caretaker for her ALS-affected husband Wayne, and who died suddenly of fungal meningitis after receiving tainted steroids for neck pain.

Get Smart About Antibiotics Week

According to this CDC video released for this year's Get Smart About Antibiotics Week - When your child is sick, antibiotics may not be the answer. Work with your child’s doctor or nurse to learn how you can help your child feel better.

Did you notice how pharmacists, the family's most readily and freely accessible healthcare provider, professionals who could quickly and competently triage a child's signs and symptoms, and prevent unnecessary doctor visits, were snubbed as being a potential source for educating the public?

You need the Flash plugin to view this video.

A New Sensation

It was only a few years ago when I bought a collar for my new puppy. I just received his dog license in the mail and thought that he's at that age when it was time for him to start wearing a collar, like most responsible dog owners would expect.

Little did I know just how difficult the task would be to get him to wear it.

As soon as I tried to put it on, he started jerking around like a wet fish and seemed to think that I was trying to kill him. It took a little more effort than I thought it would, but I finally got it on him. But, that didn't stop him from flopping around like a fish, whining about it, and constantly trying to pull it off.

I swear, it took a good five days before he accepted the collar and quit scratching at it. Even though it took some effort, he finally resolved himself that wearing the collar was in his own best interests, and that fighting against wearing it was a losing battle. With time, he didn't even know it was there.

So, it's because of this difficult experience of trying to get my puppy to wear a collar that I think that I understand why porn stars are so upset about being required to wear condoms.

They've been working so long without using condoms that it's a new and undesirable sensation.

Of course they're going to fight against it. But just like my puppy, in the long run they'll get used to it, and cum to love the protection condoms offer from those nasty and untreatable STDs caught on set.

But, don't just take my word for it. Listen to the porn industry healthcare representatives selling it.

Can Science Stop Crime?

Are criminals born, or are criminals made? What's the secret to stopping crime? David Pogue, from Nova Science Now, gives the third degree to scientists pushing the limits of technology, not only to solve horrific murders but also to try to prevent crimes before they even happen. Here's the trailer -

The Suicide Plan | PBS Frontline

PBS FRONTLINE explores the underground world of assisted suicide.

In this groundbreaking 90-minute film FRONTLINE explores the underground world of assisted suicide and takes viewers inside one of the most polarizing social issues of our time – told not only by the people choosing to die, but also by their “assisters,” individuals and right-to-die organizations that put themselves in legal jeopardy by helping others to die.

Watch it on-air or online beginning Tuesday, November 13th.

Looking Back

I was just remembering my first year in pharmacy school, when I wanted to be a part of that society.

Looking back, I can only imagine what it must have been like for those pharmacy students who came from an entire family of pharmacists, and weren't sure that they wanted to become one too.

See You At ASHP Midyear 2012

A little encouragement goes a long way. So, make sure to stop by and say "Hi" to me at this year's ASHP Midyear 2012 convention. I'll be the lonely superhero working the crowd.

And remember - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.


Source: Wong Fu Productions

I Am Bigger And Better

You can work as hard as this newer breed of Canadian pharmacy students to remain relevant in your profession. But at some point, your hard work and dedication won't be enough to succeed.

So, how will you react when bigger and better (and cheaper) robots eventually replace you?


I am Bigger And Better from VFX on Vimeo.