From Virginia

Quick update from Virginia:
Vacation is awesome. Snowboarding is easier the second time you try it (take my word for it). Back to the slopes this evening. (Yes, the slopes are lighted so you can go at night...cool hu?).

Ok, i gotta get back to 64, or ping pong, or some kind of chocolate - I just know it.

Tomorrow is Christmas (kinda)

I fixed the comments section, so now anyone can post a comment (not just Blogger members).

Plug of the day: Neal's bro & friends submitted a video for the Yellowcard music video contest. It's actually really awesome. You can see it here. It's listed as Matt Bohling. Winner gets $5000. With the number of entries it sounds more like a popularity contest than best video, but that's OK with me. So vote for Matt.

"Grandma just called and said you're supposed to go home."

I watched Napolean Dynamite last night at Neals. I must say that is the second stupidest movie I have ever seen. No plot line - which isn't really that uncommon, except this movie does it on purpose. Now that I've had some time to reflect on the movie, I understand all the hype, and I think I'd see it again.

My first semester in grad school ends with nothing but A's. I can't remember ever getting straight A's in school (I was somewhat of a homework avoider in earlier years). And, I know this is the first time I've had a 4.0. Yeah me!!!

Well, I get to drive to Phoenix bright & early tomorrow. Here's to holiday traffic!!

Drug Problems

So, if you don't keep up with health news I do because of my medically related graduate work. There's been a lot of news on the arthritis drugs Vioxx, Celebrex and now Aleve (Naproxen). All these drugs have had studies come out in the last few months showing they bring an increase of risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, etc).

I'm not trying to downplay the risk, but very few articles actually site the risk to a given person. For most people, the risk of having cardiovascular event in the next 3 years is less than one percent. Which means an increase of 2.5 times the norm (Vioxx) is still minimal and barely statistically significant (unless you are at high CV risk).

I was happy to stumble upon this article. Basically, it reports that a some people think the risk involved is well worth the amount of pain relief. The actions of Merck (maker of Vioxx) have probably caused more of a media frenzy than the results deserve, and may mean the demise of a whole family of drugs (COX inhibitors) that otherwise would be effective.

Bottom Line: Anything you put into your body that is not natural (whether it's a hip replacement or tylenol) will result in some kind of effect not exclusive to the desired one. Get used to it, and weigh the risk.

Break

Christmas break is great!! (Yes, I said Christmas). Sleep in. Watch some TV. Do some reading. Ride my bike. No homework. No class. Besides my one small research project, I relax, and wait for grades to come (which is scarier for some people than others).

This break should be cool. Mindy & I are flying to Virginia to see some of her (and maybe my) family. Come ski or snow board, I will be having fun. What are you doing for break?

First Post!!!

Here I am for the first post!!! So...bookmark or I'll find you.