DwayneEMTP

It certainly is my wish Brother...

I think that we've spent more than enough time on this subject....Unless of course Kiwi isn't yet tired of everyone making the same comments over and over and over... It would appear that you're getting better Kiwi?

If you've not seen it, it's Peter Canning's page/blog. http://medicscribe.com/

I just finished reading the Steve Jobs book, and he makes that claim, as did Carl Sagan, though he includes pot as well...Also, there were some really interesting studies in the 60's that claimed pretty significant mental benefits as well... Just curious. It's not like it can do any real damage to either of my remaining brain cells... That statement seems strangely, carefully specific...

Yeah, I have a theory that people are meant to get wasted, baked, fried, or whatever every now and then. When I was training animals for a living I was given an article by an elephant trainer at a zoo. It explained that when elephants were first put in zoos that they were terribly expensive as you had to buy new ones all the time as they only lived a few years in captivity. A naturalist noticed while studying them that elephants in the wild would eat cocoa (?) every day, once or twice, get a little buzz and go about their business. Once they started supplying these to zoo elephants they became able to keep them for decades instead. Not encouraging drinking, just commenting that from an evolutionary point of view, particularly if you assume that humans have entered a world they were never really evolved for (yet), (instant everything, little to no 'down' time) then taking a chemical break makes sense. In fact I've never done LSD, but it's on my bucket list as some of the most creative, successful men in history claim that they wouldn't have reached their potential without it....I have to peek through that window, right? I mean, who could resist that? Not me... Post random drug screens of course... :-)

(So, Ter, I'm guessing when I said, "Don't let that call get to you" that it didn't take... :-) ) I love being challenged. And I love being part of the brotherhood that exists throughout those truly committed to emergency medicine in all of it's forms. I admit to sometimes liking the fact that I get way more credit than I deserve for doing the job that I do. The respect feels great, trying to figure out how to be deserving an impossible challenge. I truly hate the hero bullshit that comes with being a paramedic. Not only when it's bestowed undeserving, but even much more watching others take credit where none is deserved. I love being in the middle of nowhere with no immediate help available. The extra levels of concern and mental grinding that that evokes. I love that I get to/have to think emergent with a constant mix of 'the next few days' thrown in when I'm really not smart enough, or strong enough, or experienced enough to do either well. I then Love, Love, when everything turns out the way I expected despite my deficiencies. I hate being 36hrs from flying home at the end of a 7 week jag without an itinerary because the 9-5ers don't think it's a big deal when or how I get home as long as it happens 'some time within the next 10 days.' But easily my favorite part is being gifted with the friendship of those (of all levels, basic to docs) that believe that they love me by challenging me, that they respect me by making me prove myself, that they work to quell my fears by making me smart enough and strong enough to tackle issues that should be beyond me. Knowing that no matter how stupid I am, nor how bad I screw up, no matter how lost I get, that there are many just waiting to help me find my way as long as I make sure that my medic spirit morally/ethically/emotionally remains intact. A bunch of mushy bullshit, right? :-) Welcome to travel time countdown!! Introspection is kind of part of the process...

This is the first time that I've ever locked a topic. And I'll listen in PM if anyone feels that unlocking it would be productive. It's unfortunate that it got personal, but believe it or not I believe that there was a lot to be learned from this thread. Did Kiwi do anything provably wrong? It's debatable, but in my opinion, now that we've moved past every post being about taking a piss, for me, his value far outweighs what I found relatively offensive. Did Kiwi and many others learn how close we can become here, and how damaged many, including myself can feel if they feel fooled or manipulated? Yeah, I think so. The behavior of many in this thread leaves little to be desired, but that's what learning to be friends is all about. People can joke, and pull the macho bullshit card about 'you're all just names on a screen to me.' but I think that we've proved here that that is not the case for many. I've come to love many on this board and tell them so often, and I've made lifelong friends here that are even more valuable than the knowledge that I've gained, which is invaluable to me. I do feel weird having the last word and then locking the thread, so if anyone feels that this is unfair, biased, unproductive, or any other 'un' thing that I may not have thought of, send me a note and we'll take a look. I'm confident that most of the regular contributors, that have chosen to, have had their say and I'd just as soon not allow strangers to take a shot at something that I feel is pretty personal to our little City family. I look forward to learning from you Kiwi, in the future as I have in the past, and it's my hope that others will let this pass as they've let my many drunken, idiotic, misspoken bullshit rants pass before, and almost certainly will again in the future. I think that we need to scratch at each others eyes now and then. The Yin and Yang of life says that our passions can't only be positive, sometimes they're going to have teeth. Teeth were sharpened here, and blood drawn, but it's my hope that we now have it out of our system and will move past this thread as friends, just as we started. Dwayne Locked

I'm thinking that Dusty would have stayed out of this one...he had his own stuff to hide... As stated before. I went a long time without mentioning this as I don't think that it's the end of the world. What finally pushed me over was the continued flagellation of another person for being phony, when it appeared, and I used that word in it's most literal sense, that the same was being accomplished by the accuser. We've had other members that screwed the pooch, have come back and said, "What was I thinking? Sorry about that...I was a little bit insane for a minute." and that's the end of it... I have little problem with what came before, some, but not to much, but it does bother me now, the attitude of, "I can't help what people think! I didn't participate in their believing me to be a medic!" I'm calling bullshit on both types of comments...

Yeah, people have already been hurt. Now we're just letting folks air their feelings and seeing what can be salvaged. Kiwi's not shown himself to be a pussy before, I don't expect that he'll do so now. As most have said, Kiwi's posts often rock...I hope he stays. But in the meantime all of this nonsense needs to be cleared up. So if this thread is going to be locked any time soon, it won't be by me.

It's these types of statements that we all need explained I think. So you're saying then, that up until 'two years ago' that you were, and had been, working as a paramedic with all appropriated licenses and such?

Actually that's not what I heard. And I think that you do know what they believe based on conversations with them as well as the Kiwi + Medic in your name giving them pretty strong reasons to do so, right? Just so that I'm clear, as you and I often get off on tangents, I've heard that you're not now, nor have ever been certified in any capacity as a pre-hospital care provider. And it seems unclear if there have ever been any other certs either? I'd have never mentioned this, but do now because you won't let the 'fakery' of this guy go despite the fact that you continue to allow people to believe that you are, and/or have been, a paramedic..and to me, that seems much like the same thing. But I'd like to give you the chance to speak to it so that I can be sure that I'm not misunderstanding something.

Wouldn't it be your opinion Kiwi that the vast majority of the people on this board believe you to be now, and for many years a working, licensed NZ paramedic? I've recently heard differently. Perhaps it's time that you let this thread die Brother....As appearances allowed, and perceived, aren't always exactly what they seem to be then maybe it's best if the hate fest just ends here? Dwayne

Do we really need to know the motivation to answer the questions? Seems like you either know why they might remove them, or you don't. The other stuff is fine and interesting, but maybe should be added to your answer to the question instead of as an attempt to make is sound as if the question is stupid to begin with. I don't have an answer Brother, but I thought that it was a really interesting question...I'll have to think on it for a bit...My knee jerk reaction would be that it has something to do with manipulating patients with possible acute abs. But not sure if that makes sense or not...

Yeah Hebie, I had hot cupping done in Mongolia for a respiratory infection. I'll have to see if I can find the pics...And it's more than just the cups the majority of the time. It's combined with an herbal oil that they rub onto/into your skin believing that to be healthy alone but more so when you draw the blood up into contact with it with the cups. Does it work? I don't know either. I got better pretty fast but was on other meds as well. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. A bit of it hurt in a good way, and the rest felt really good in a good way. Plus I'm pretty sure it didn't make me worse. One thing that that experience along with others while being remote has convinced me of...When you're really sick, it feels really good to have someone put their hands on you in any kind and gentle way. We really miss the boat where this is concerned with medicine. I think that there was also power in the fact that this beautiful young woman so seriously expended her gentle attentions to make me well. By putting my mind in the best place to heal in not wanting to disappoint her by staying sick after she's cared for me. Sounds silly, but it feels right in some way, just not sure what way... Have at it making all of the porn references that you'd like, but it was an amazing few moments in time without any discernible sexual element that I could see. (Man, sorry for blathering on off topic. I'm only a few days from flying and as most of our long timers know that tends to make me and other remote/military/rural medics a little melancholy and introspective.)

Exactly....

We assume that it was gossip, and it likely was. But I would almost certainly have reported it, if I had any respect for my chain of command from a, "Hey, I just heard/saw this, you may want to try and get out in front of it." point of view.

As DFIB said, medics on scene v patients on scene? I would think that the results would depend on the experience of the medics working together. Turn a bunch of medics from different areas together on an MCI and they'll look like a bunch of monkeys humping footballs with central leadership. Take the same medics that have trained together and they friggin' rock it. Not taking shots at you Brother. There are a ton of folks here that are Google Ninjas and others that live for research, but you will have to be a bit more specific. Particularly as I'm neither... I'm excited to see how this goes though! I've been here a while and don't remember ever hearing of such a topic here, and that's a rare thing.

Really? You? Don't be a dork! You have the book, all the time in the world to study, if you're willing to accept anything less than 100% then I spit in your general direction! (Not sure if you're old enough for the reference) If you fail it, they will walk you through the test and explain your errors and let you take it again, and if you fail it again they will do the same thing again, and if you fail it that time then they should actually performing ACLS on you at that point as you're simply to dumb to support a heartbeat. You're not dumb, so stop worrying about something as simple as that. And really, really don't do the wanker thing of "What's the shittiest that I can do and still get one of those certificate thingies?" ACLS is going to be one of your most often run emergencies...yeah, in most places it will dwarf the numbers of traumas, yet that's what everyone gets all juicy about, right? Don't learn that book to pass this test Needles, learn it because you're going to use it A LOT! And it's important, and any competent medic should be able to run those scenarios in his/her sleep. The test isn't your goal, the test is your benchmark. Use it to tell you whether or not you 'get it.' If you fail, be grateful that you were stopped before walking out with a head full of shit that you thought was education. If you pass, well...that's you're job, isn't it? What do you want, a kiss on the lips? (Perv) Get into the book, learn it, understand it, bring your questions here until you do, and then take that REAL knowledge out into the world and do good with it..Oh, and in the meantime give them their money and go pass their silly test. You're welcome.

You know, for all the fun we make, and the tantrums we throw about those monitoring our grammar and spelling, I do a much, much better job posting, (and am truly grateful for that), then when I started here years ago. Being corrected is a gift. As much fun as it is to shout down the Grammar Nazis, they do server a really important function here.

Depends on the mood...but if I had to be violated for the right to share the story?...Yeah, well, I would need to think about it, but I couldn't instantly say no...

I once entered into the most amazing and wholesome union with my high school sweetheart after the home coming game...I'm confident that there were no politics or cash involved...does that count?

Yeah man, HIPAA covers the electronic transfer of information as it relates to billing. None of those things applies here. You 'captain' was trying to sound smart while at the same time proving himself to be ignorant. And a hosemonkey getting tazed for punching a patient and a cop? Yeah, violate me, write me up, fire me, but that's a story I'm telling to EVERYBODY! There is no possible scenario, from the information that you've provided, that can cause this to become a HIPAA issue. He's talking out of his ass.

Hey Mike, honest question... Can you present a scenario where a kid explaining AEDs might get jammed up legally? I can't really imagine one that is realistic.. Again, I have faith in your opinion, but can't see it...

No, pretty much every country but the U.S.is exempt from taxes when remote, at least in the war theater. Not sure about other remote gigs. I think that they just took it from the Aussies to, though I'm not sure.

I can't see any, particularly if you're doing it within your company. Many of us have been asked and/or volunteered to prepare demonstrations on things that we're not necessarily experts on. Teaching is also part of the learning process. No certs needed to show how something is used as long as you're not making any false claims about your abilities.