Finally, Someone is Bringing Attention to so-called Dr. Oz. He's Truly a Threat to Public Safety! He May Be America's Doctor, but he Sure Ain't Mine!

The following letter speaks for itself.

Lee Goldman, M.D.
Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine
Columbia University

Dear Dr. Goldman:

I am writing to you on behalf of myself and the undersigned colleagues below, all of whom are distinguished physicians.

We are surprised and dismayed that Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons would permit Dr. Mehmet Oz to occupy a faculty appointment, let alone a senior administrative position in the Department of Surgery.

As described here and here, as well as in other publications, Dr. Oz has repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine, as well as baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops. Worst of all, he has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.

Thus, Dr. Oz is guilty of either outrageous conflicts of interest or flawed judgments [sic] about what constitutes appropriate medical treatments, or both. Whatever the nature of his pathology, members of the public are being misled and endangered, which makes Dr. Oz's presence on the faculty of a prestigious medical institution unacceptable.

Sincerely yours,

Henry I. Miller, M.D.
Robert Wesson Fellow in Scientific Philosophy
& Public Policy
Hoover Institution
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Scott W. Atlas, M.D.
David and Joan Traitel Senior Fellow
Hoover Institution
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Jack Fisher, M.D.
Professor of Surgery (emeritus)
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA

Shelley Fleet, M.D.
Anesthesiologist
Longwood, FL

Gordon N. Gill, M.D.
Dean (emeritus) of Translational Medicine
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA

Michael H. Mellon, M.D.
Pediatric Allergist
San Diego, CA

GIlbert Ross, M.D.
President (Acting) and Executive Director
American Council on Science and Health
New York, NY

Samuel Schneider, M.D.
Psychiatrist
Princeton, NJ

Glenn Swogger Jr. M.D.
Director of the Will Menninger Center for Applied Behavioral Sciences (retired)
The Menninger Foundation
Topeka, KS

Joel E. Tepper, M.D.
Hector MacLean Distinguished Professor of Cancer Research
Dept of Radiation Oncology
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC

Though all major news organizations are reporting on this, the letter here is from the Washington Post.

Here's CNN's report.

Sadly folks, many so-called prestigious medical schools are now bringing in so-called complementary, alternative, and the latest, integrative medicine.  It's all bullshit! When something works, it's simple, it's called medicine. When something doesn't work, it's called something other than medicine. Let the buyer beware!

Yes, I Bought Another Ukulele...... What Can I Say?

Where to start? OK, I'll readily admit it, I'm talent-less! Yes, I have no talent. Well, at least

no musical talent. And, possibly, none at all.

When I was six I took accordion lessons. The accordion is in the attic. I might be able to play one or two simple songs. Who knows?

When I was a kid many of us had harmonicas. Usually, a Hohner Marine Brand. Over the years I've tried to learn to play the harmonica. OK, yes, I can play basic songs. I now have about 20 harmonicas, including one custom, And, yes, a bunch of harmonica books, But, can I actually play a harmonica? Maybe a little..... But, haven't practiced in a while.

About eight years or so ago, I got interested in ukuleles. Can't remember exactly what drew me to them. Well, I think the only four strings may have been part of it. Also, it seemed most folks said that you could be playing actual songs with little practice. In fact, there are many YouTube videos that claim you can play hundreds, if not thousands, of songs by learning just three chords. As I best remember, my first uke was a Fluke or Flea manufactured by Flea Market Music.

I then started looking  around and, thankfully and fortunately, found Michael Aratani. Yes, he had an eBay store. He was known as Music Guy Mic (MGM). What a delightful fellow. And, after meeting Mike (on the phone) my uke buying started with a vengeance (a story for another time). OK, I have nine ukes. Can you ever have too many ukes????? I ended-up with several of what I think folks call the three Ks. Mike was always there with sage advice. Several times I'd see a really cool looking uke and call Mike. He often told me not to buy the latest cool uke I'd found. He'd tell me that I had far better ukes already. He was always patient with my beginner questions and always steered me in the right direction. Thank you, Mike.

A week or so ago, I dug out my ukes after having rarely played them for years. And, I tried to contact Mike and sadly learned that he'd died at age 55. Yes, I knew he'd been battling a serious illness.

Here is an amazing tribute to Music Guy Mic.

I also learned that there is a special ukulele to honor Mike. And, I just couldn't resist and, as I type this, the great folks at theukulelesite.com will soon be getting my uke ready for shipping. The set-up procedure they use is amazing. And, Andrew granted my request to have Joel set-up my uke.

I just can't imagine a better place to buy a ukulele. They have everything on their site: comparisons, information about types of wood used for ukuleles, strings, sizes of ukes, instructions about how to play...well, everything you need.

Buy a uke. It's (almost) guaranteed to put a smile on your face and can give you a lifetime of pleasure.

Some people think a ukulele is nothing more than a kids' toy. That is far from the truth. To give you an idea of what a ukulele is capable of take a look here, here, here,  and here.

Edit: Uke arrived today, April 16, 2015. Amazingly, the folks at HMS for purchases over $400 ship free FedEx two days. I like my uke...perfectly setup and ready to go. Now, if I can just figure out to to play these things....