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Superhero Pharmacist Depression

I'm telling you prospective pharmacy students, the profession of pharmacy is increasingly dynamic.

Pharmacists are also continuously losing their professional autonomy. You may begin your schooling with certain expectations about your career choice, but those expectations can change 180-degrees, even before your graduate. Those changes are also going to happen out of your control, and mainly under the direction of corporate demands.

Some pharmacists can't live happily working under those conditions.

So, if you decide to become a superhero pharmacist without researching whether you're well-suited for constant change, working in a restrictive corporate environment, sitting in a cubicle all day, or can't deal with further loss of autonomy, then your career choice may eventually affect your psyche.

But, don't just take my word for it. See for yourself -


Source: Andrew M Films | HT: Gizmodo: The Depressing Truth About Being a Superhero

They Used To Call Me The Breeze

Growing up in a family that moved from place to place about every year or two, I became used to not living in one spot for very long, and also became used to not establishing any long-term relationships nor any long-term commitments. Looking back upon it, I realize that growing up being exposed this type of parental lifestyle formed the foundation for my own adult life.

After becoming an adult myself, it was in 1976 when I left my family to begin my own itinerant life in this world. Except for the past decade or so, I've been on the move ever since.

I like change, I like new experiences, I like exploration, I like diversity, and - I don't carry me no load. Being on the move my entire life has had both it's advantages and disadvantages. But, such is life.

If you've been reading The Cynical Pharmacist for any length of time, then you'll understand that rock music has also played an important role in my life. I enjoy a lot of various music, but as most of the music videos that I've posted point out, I'm partial to the music of the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. It's the style of music that I grew up with and which played a formative role in my youth.

Having spent my teen life growing up in the South, I'm also partial to southern rock music, bands like ZZ Top, the Allman Brothers, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, and of course Lynyrd Skynyrd.

One of my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd tunes is "Call Me The Breeze", not just because of it's fast-paced, kick-ass guitar jams, but because it describes my attitude about the continuous journeys in my life. It's the one song I play whenever it's time to move-on to a new adventure.

As such, I thought I would post this video in memoriam of the artist who wrote the song for Lynyrd Syknyrd - J.J. Cale, and who passed away on Friday. RIP J.J. Your great songs will live on forever.

Sight | A Short Film

In the not-too-distant future, Google Glass will be considered the Pong of augmented reality.


Sight from Sight Systems on Vimeo.

Do You Want To Be A RoboPharmacist?

I think that I may have mentioned a while back that I went to pharmacy school mainly to please my ex-wife, who said that she wouldn't stay married to me if I didn't become a pharmacist. As Dr. Phil might say to me. "So, how's that working out for you?"

I know that times are tough, and that you're seeking the safety of a well-paying career. But before you apply to pharmacy school, makes sure that a pharmacist is truly someone you can envision being.

Do you really want to become part of a profession where conformity rules, where many of us can only survive if we "comply" with corporate demands, and are expected to "obey" without complaint? Can you envision becoming a robopharmacist, working for one of the PBMs or one of the chains? Can you do that for 25 years?

Be true to yourself, and don't do anything because someone else pressures you into it. Just imagine what your first job interview would be like after graduating and becoming licensed if you did.

[Damn! Perfect original video link removed by source]

Pharmacist Job Market Redux

Following up on my previous post about a tightening pharmacist job market, I think it's important to understand that while employment opportunities are currently available in the profession, there's still a risk that some of us superheroes may face the prospect of unemployment because we don't yet have Federal provider-status recognition protecting us when cost-containment issues involved with the ACA come into effect next year.

But, if we stick together, perhaps we can prevent those potential job losses.

For example, if you find yourself in a difficult position like Master of Degrees, who recently graduated, is at the mercy of repaying a six-figure student loan debt, and whose loan interest rate just doubled, then it may be time to call in Captain Generica for a some backup.

If that Plan A doesn't work, then consider enlisting the services of Plan B, an older and experienced pharmacist who'll show you how to kick 'em where it hurts. The more we help each other, the better.

So remember, while it's important to keep up a good attitude and incorporate a keen sense of humor about becoming unemployed, don't forget that there will be other superhero pharmacists willing to join the fight against being under the thumb of the Just Us League.

Teamwork is the key to victory. If they view pharmacists as a unified formidable force, they'll be less likely to battle against us. All we have to do is to be able to see the big picture, put aside our petty differences, join forces, and consolidate our powers together as one.


The Adventures of Unemployed Man from Unemployed Man on Vimeo.

Don't Become Damaged Goods

While sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) affect men and women of all backgrounds and economic levels, young people bear a disproportionate burden of STDs in Arizona. And according to the Arizona Department of Health 2011 Annual STD Report, reported chlamydia cases in Arizona have steadily increased from 2006 to 2011. This rise in chlamydia rates requires some intervention/education.

Similar to national trends, adolescents in Arizona, particularly young women, are disproportionately affected by chlamydia. Closer examination of chlamydia rates among young people ages 15 - 24 reveals extremely high values, nearly five times the rates for the state as a whole. In 2011, cases from this age group comprise 68% of all chlamydia cases in Arizona.

Because most people who become infected with chlamydia don’t realize they have it, and therefore don't seek treatment, it can cause significant health problems among women. For instance, untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can become recurrent among young women and girls often leading to expensive health complications and/or infertility.

Sexually active women in their childbearing years are most at risk, and those under age 25 are more likely to develop PID than those older than 25. This is partly because the cervix of teenage girls and young women is not fully matured, increasing their susceptibility to the STDs that are linked to PID.

So as you can see, if you're going to have sex, especially with multiple partners, it's always in your own best interests to have safe sex. Use latex condoms each and every time you have sex, and get tested at least yearly. Because the last thing you want to be called is - damaged goods.

GOP Ballroom Blitz About DOMA

You know, it's my belief that almost all politicians work on behalf of their corporate masters, and will selfishly sell out the rest of us average Americans simply to serve their own best interests.

But the GOP has really taken selling out a step further. How is it that the American people can't see how fanatically crazy these politicians have become?

If you ask me, they're some serious control freaks. It seems to me like they hate anyone who's not rich, white, male, overtly straight, and fanatically Christian, or even anyone else who disagrees with them. Where's all that hate coming from? And who in their right mind would support their efforts?

Nothing epitomizes it more than last week's Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. Republican lawmakers, officials, pundits, and even some religious leaders are going ape-shit now that Gay people can get married just like the rest of us. Although I'm against marriage in general, I don't understand them. Homosexual love doesn't negatively affect anyone else in any way.

You'd think that the GOP would be more upset with corporations being considered "people".

But, don't just take my word about how upset they are. Listen to this band erroneously hired by the GOP to play for John Boehner (the man in the back) and Sarah Palin (the girl in the corner) at their recent ballroom fund-raiser, describe the GOP's anger while at this function.