Take Two #75: Medicine Losing the Big Picture

May 06, 2013

By Kyra-lin Hom

Does technology make people dumber? Normally I'd vote 'no.' I love technology and believe it allows us to challenge our brains in new ways. I mean, yes, every once in a while I catch myself entering 2+4 or 6x6 into a calculator and then have to momentarily hang my head in shame. But for the most part, I am very pro tech. Recently, I had an experience that made me question that belief. It was... a doctor's visit.

Doctors and medical professionals are supposed to be really smart. They have to study all the natural sciences, research and mathematics, be able to step back and see a whole picture out of numerous symptoms like one of those crazy murals made out of thousands of tiny photos (called photo mosaics). This is traditionally a field for smart people. Well, my friends, that tradition may be slipping. And among other things like failing financial motivation (the true brains go into finance or super specialize now) and medical insurance soul-sucking booby-traps, I blame technology.

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Take Two #76 Taking the next step to Graduate School

By Kyra-lin Hom

I want to start off by saying, my goodness, the weather has been gorgeous lately! An uncanny amount of sun, a bit of precipitation to remind us, yes, we do still live in the northwest – indeed, I do call that gorgeous. I get a little bit of downtime in the afternoon right after classes, and I've been spending it lounging in the back seat of my car with the windows down, sun and a soft breeze, a good book in hand until I inevitably have to leave for my next destination. Perhaps it's a little vagrant-like, but I enjoy it. It's not quite enough time for me to get anything done so it's the perfect excuse for a bit of lazy afternoon. A nice break from all the crazy, so to speak. What's the latest crazy, you ask? I'll tell you: grad school. I set my deadline, and it's fast approaching.

(To clarify for those who may be familiar with application deadlines, I'm applying for spring 2014.)

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The Greatest Country

Apr 29, 2013

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

When I hear our president or anyone else spout about our country being the greatest country in the world, I become nauseous. I was brought up to share and not to engage in braggadocio behavior. I can hardly sing the national anthem without shuddering when everyone sings about the bombs bursting in air. I always have wondered what being the greatest country means anyway. If it means being the richest, then owing more than any other country puts us out of the running for that prize. Being far down the list of countries in providing early childhood and college education for citizens wouldn’t qualify this country for plaudits. And as to most affordable health care, that honor is already taken.

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