Podcasts about Hippocratic Oath

Despite the fact US healthcare has $7.6 trillion market cap and is beyond capital intensive, industry executives have been loathe to divest in fossil fuels. For example, per “The Lancet's” 2023 and 2024 annual “Countdown on Health and Climate” reports, between 2008 and 2023 of the 1,613 institutions committed to divesting in fossil fuels, only 28 were healthcare institutions and since 2018 only one has committed to doing so. Among numerous other reasons why this is, to be polite, disturbing, if not evil, is because: fossil fuel investments substantially explain healthcare's massive carbon footprint at over 600 MMT of CO2e annually; anthropocentric warming poses the greatest threat to human health; failure to divest make a mockery of the Hippocratic Oath; and, among other ironies of the 12 S&P 500 economic sectors the energy sector was the worst performer by far since 2010. Information regarding the First Do No Harm campaign, including their sign-on letter, is at: https://firstdonoharm.earth/. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

We're back with more exciting case reviews filled with many valuable lessons and this time, we explore cases that almost ended in disaster for the doctors involved. We are joined again by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. David Salomon – currently practicing at Yale New Haven Hospital, Connecticut – who begins by sharing his thoughts on our first case in review involving an accidental violation of the Hippocratic Oath. Then, we discuss a patient with hypertension who seized mid-operation, why leading with empathy is the foundation for avoiding possible lawsuits, the role of vulnerability between doctors and patients, and how two wrongs never make a right. We end with an extraction gone wrong for an 18-year-old high school softball player, communication and other referral problems that exist across the industry, fail-safes to improve referral protocols, how to address minor patients who feel they've been wronged, and why we need to implement more timeouts as standard practice. As a bonus final act, doctors Salomon and Stucki reminisce on when Dr. Salomon saved Dr. Stucki's life.  Key Points From This Episode:An unfortunate and accidental breach of privacy. The best practices for doctors engaging with patients online, especially on public platforms. Unpacking the malpractice case of a patient who had a seizure on the operating table. How to make amends when things go wrong, and the importance of leading with empathy.Why vulnerability matters, and how to avoid adding fuel to the fire. How a wrongful extraction highlights some of the key issues doctors face with referrals.  What practitioners can do to ensure referrals receive the same care as self-referrals. The ins and outs of timeouts and their undeniable importance. How Dr. Salomon intervened in Dr. Stucki's near-fatal encounter! Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Dr. David Salomon on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-salomon-b8ab1431/ Yale New Haven Hospital — https://www.ynhh.org/ Coastal Connecticut — https://www.coastalctoms.com/ Risk Tips Archive | MedPro Dental — https://oms.medprodental.com/category/risk-tips  Dr. Ira Satinover on Healthgrades — https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-ira-satinover-y8hpw Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Oklahoma GOP advances bill letting Christian doctors deny services to patientsThe Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on March 5, 2025https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/oklahoma-gop-advances-bill-lettingThe ongoing discussion centers around House Bill 1006 in Oklahoma, which would allow medical professionals to refuse care based on personal ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. This controversial bill is perceived as a direct attack on individual autonomy, placing people's well-being at risk in favor of religious freedom. The debate escalates into questions about the ethics of healthcare, especially regarding religious objections to certain treatments like abortion or gender-affirming care. Panelists discuss the implications of such a bill, with Tracy arguing that this stems from entitlement and a refusal to empathize with those in need of care. The conversation expands to the broader issue of personal beliefs interfering with professional duties. One panelist points out that if religious beliefs are allowed to dictate medical practice, it opens the door for prejudices based on race, gender, or sexual orientation, which could further harm marginalized groups. There's also the concern that emergency care could be undermined if doctors interpret situations in ways that align with their personal beliefs. The Hippocratic Oath, which doctors take to promise "do no harm," is brought into question. The law's potential to undermine this oath is a serious concern, as medical professionals could choose to withhold care based on subjective ethical reasoning. While some argue that religious freedoms should allow for such refusals, others see this as a dangerous precedent. Emergency situations might provide an exception, but the vagueness of what constitutes an emergency leads to further potential abuse. Ultimately, the bill would create a system where healthcare is treated as a privilege rather than a right, accessible only to those whose values align with those of their doctors.The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.11.1 featuring Helen Greene, Eli Slack, Kelley Laughlin and Tracy WilbertBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-non-prophets--3254964/support.

Market Proof Marketing · Ep 376 - The Best Project Management Tool? The One You'll Use!Kevin Oakley is back this week, and is joined by Julie Jarnagin and Beth Russell. This week's episode kicks off with a funny story from Kevin about being everyone's best friend, and shifts into story time, covering insightful calls with builders the team has had recently. News stories discussed include Google lifting its 2019 ban on fingerprinting for advertisers, a deep dive into the effectiveness of builder incentives, AI readiness in homebuilding, and a new task manager blog written by DYC's very own, Samantha Kellenberger!Story Time (04:40): Julie has been working on her IBS presentation around brand consistency, and how providing guardrails (using LEGO as a great example) keeps things consistent while using user generated content. Kevin follows-up surrounding a recent conversation about creating rules, and showcasing content to inform certainty. Beth had an interesting call with a company owner, who referenced the Hippocratic Oath that doctors make -- do no harm -- and tied it to their website. For example, putting too much information out there and over-engineering what you're showcasing can cause more harm than good. Kevin reminds: until you hit a minimum lead quantity, you don't get to complain about lead quality! Kevin spoke to a builder this week who has one community performing very differently than others despite having similar processes for marketing. Using GA4's path exploration tool, he noticed that the options people were clicking most were the items right in the center/most obvious. He encourages marketers to use this tool, and view it from the eyes of a customer. Mobile reality can't be ignored or fixed -- you can only do so much on a mobile screen. In The News (28:13): Google just lifted its 2019 ban on fingerprinting for advertisersGoogle now allows advertisers to track users across devices and websites, collecting data points like IP addresses, operating system details, and screen resolution.Kevin's hunch is we only see this live for a short time before it's taken away again, but they'll collect a significant amount of data in the meantime.The Cost of Incentives: Have Buyers Come to Expect Perks?Are consumers addicted, are builders addicted, or both?Kevin recaps the importance of the messaging of "new," and how you don't have to offer the biggest new incentive, you need to lean into how consumers want to stay informed. One nuance discussed is how some customers don't qualify without them.The Seven Stages of AI Readiness In Homebuilding From hype to impacti, AI is more than a buzzword. Julie loves the advice to evaluate AI vendors with a critical eye, and reminds you that if you're headed to IBS, there will be a lot of buzzwords, but you need to ask great questions and "pull back the onion."You need to have a clear process on how your business operates before you can layer in AI -- rethink workflows not just technology. Avoid AI for AI's sake -- start with clear business goals. Which Task Manager Tool is Best for Your Team?The best project management tool is the best one everyone in your organization will use! If you're looking into using a task manager to help your team (Monday, Asana, Trello, etc.) she outlines the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.Beth remembers wanting to implement something for her team, and asking Kevin how to get started, and thinks the ease-of-use summary was so helpful in the blog. Come for the writing, stay for the summary chart! Things We Love - Things We Hate (53:38):Beth has entered "Masters season" in the Augusta area, and is fascinated by how intertwined it is into the culture. She is equally obsessed and perplexed. Julie is in the midst of Mardi Gras, in full king cake and parade season. But her favorite thing is going to thrift stores, and loves the hunt. Kevin's favorite is the Hollyland Lark M2S Microphone, which is extremely small, and is a great price for 2 mics. Like and subscribe on your favorite platform! The post Ep 376 - The Best Project Management Tool? The One You'll Use! appeared first on Online Sales and Marketing for Home Builders - DYC.

Ever wonder how the current chaotic world and the state of healthcare are affecting our children, the most vulnerable members of society and those of us who care for them? Listen to this episode as Lia shares her angst and hope with the complexities of a world facing climate disasters, political strife, physician burnout, and a dwindling trust in science. This solo episode is a self-reflection about building the courage, commitment, and resilience required to safeguard children's health in these turbulent times. As Lia recounts her own experiences during the pandemic and advocates for unwavering integrity in pediatric care, she challenges listeners to reflect on their role to protect the wellbeing of ALL children.. This episode is a call to action—will you answer it? [00:05- 04:27] Insights on Pediatric Practice The rigorous process of policy creation and revision within the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).Importance of adhering to evidence-based practices and adapting policies based on scientific discoveries.The challenges pediatricians face, including making life-and-death decisions.Commitment to upholding the Hippocratic Oath despite mounting difficulties. [04:28 -11:54] Challenges in Pediatric HealthcareLong hours, difficult on-call shifts, and emotionally taxing decisions faced by pediatricians.Inequities in healthcare access, especially for marginalized children.Disinformation surrounding vaccines and its impact on parental decisions.Concerns over administrators dictating healthcare delivery without medical expertise. [11:55 - 17:58] Challenges in Pediatric HealthcareThe exhaustion and disheartenment experienced by pediatricians.Unfair contracts, financial pressures, and charting demands that intrude on family time.Pediatricians' dedication despite overwhelming demands, driven by a sense of calling.The public's misconceptions about pediatricians' financial motivations regarding vaccines.[17:59 - 22:30] Call to Action and AdvocacyA rallying message for pediatricians to support one another and remain resilient.Reinforcement of the commitment to doing what is best for children.The importance of unity and collective efforts to address healthcare challenges.Encouragement to engage with future episodes featuring interesting guests.Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeWebsite: PediatricMeltdown.comAAP (American Academy of Pediatrics): Highlighted as a trusted source for pediatric guidelines.Dr. Anthony Fauci: Mentioned as a prominent figure in guiding healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.https://pediatricmeltdown.com/episodes120 ADHD: Part 4 Executive Function119 ADHD Part 3: Executive Function109 ADHD Symptoms: Executive Functions Part IIADHD: Strategies for Boosting Executive FunctionTweetable Quotes:"To my pediatric colleagues, we cannot be intimidated. We cannot be afraid. We have to lean into each other and have each other's backs."... Dr. Lia Gaggino on the power of solidarity"Despite the insanity of misinformation, hyperbole, and conspiracy theories, he prevailed even when he and his family were threatened and continue to be threatened."...Dr. Lia Gaggino on what Dr. Fauci had to...

Ian Schulze, returns for the first time since Episode 27, still looking for questions about Pink Floyd - and also MASH this time around. He's great at using clues in the questions to figure out answers he doesn't know right away. Enjoy! Episode Links: Last Movie in a Theater: No Time to Die Last Internet Search: “Punch” comes from the Hindi “pāñch”, meaning “five” - for the five ingredients: alcohol, sugar, juice, water, and spices. Something learned in the last week: The Hippocratic Oath was revised in the 1960s by Louis Lasagna. Favorite TV Theme: MASH and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Where do you quiz? Trivia Workshop Stream on Tuesdays Thanks Ian! Be sure to check out the linktree here: https://linktr.ee/TriviaWorkshop

In this episode of Inside The Mix, I sit down with Shane Slack, an acclaimed audio professional celebrated for his innovative approach to music production. Shane dives deep into the philosophy behind audio production, emphasising the importance of understanding the source material before processing and mastering the techniques that truly elevate your mixes. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for producers and engineers aiming to achieve high-quality results in their music.What You'll Learn:• Should I mix or master first? Shane explains the benefits of a "mastering-first" mindset for identifying and solving issues in your mix.• Why understanding your source material is crucial to avoid unnecessary processing.• How the "Hippocratic Oath" of audio production—doing no harm—can transform your approach.• The pitfalls of shortcut-seeking behaviour in music production and how to avoid them.• Breaking out of the plugin chain trap: when less is more in your signal chain.• Techniques for creating depth and movement in your mixes without overcomplication.• Why critical engagement with tools and techniques is essential for achieving professional results.If you want to refine your audio production workflow, elevate your sound, and embrace a deeper understanding of your craft, this episode is for you!Got feedback? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to leave a review, share your social media handles or website, and get featured in a future episode.Plus, one lucky reviewer will win a Starbucks voucher each month! Support the showWanna pre-save my latest single 'Separation'? Click here Follow Marc Matthews' Socials:Instagram | YouTube | Synth Music Mastering

What was the 5th leading cause of death in Canada in 2023? Shockingly, it was medical assistance in dying (MAiD) and accounted for one out of every twenty deaths. Unfortunately, Canada is not an anomaly, but part of a global trend in terms of how societies are changing when it comes to sanctity of life—and death.How did we reach this place? Hank Hanegraaff is joined by Dr. Richard Weikert to discuss his book Unnatural Death: Medicine's Descent from Healing to Killing. Weikart explains how the Judeo-Christian tradition has always encouraged a culture of life, but the secular Enlightenment and Darwinian materialism have tugged us in a different direction.Can society reverse course and embrace the sanctity of life once again?Topics discussed include: How studying both the Nazi promotion of euthanasia and Darwinism led Weikert to write Unnatural Death: Medicine's Descent from Healing to Killing (3:15); understanding the different terminology used when discussing euthanasia (5:35); the origins of euthanasia—euthanasia comes from the term “good death”(8:30); different types of passive euthanasia (10:45); how the secularization of our culture and the decline of religion has led to a rise in assisted suicide and euthanasia (14:00); the Hippocratic Oath (20:00); how is suicide presented in the Bible? (22:10); the role that the Renaissance played in the shifting attitudes about death (25:45); why is the history of the attitudes about death important to understand? (27:30); is suffering a good thing? (31:45); utilitarianism and the pursuit of pleasure in society (36:00); promotion of eugenics and euthanasia (39:30); the impact that Darwinism had and continues to have on the ideology of euthanasia (43:20); the role of economics on eugenics and euthanasia (47:15); the cognitive dissonance in our society when discussing ideas of equality, justice and even suicide (53:50); Peter Singer and the growing euthanasia movement today (57:50); the Netherlands as an example of the perils of an almost entirely secularized society (1:07:45);  the permissible reasons for euthanasia and the potential for abuse (1:11:45); the autonomy argument for assisted suicide and euthanasia (1:17:20); the life and legacy of Jack Kevorkian—Dr. Death (1:20:40); the state of bioethics and transhumanism today (1:22:35); is Oregon the suicide capital of the United States? (1:24:10); three arguments to demonstrate the slippery slope of assisted suicide and euthanasia (1:25:45); redefining death with dignity (1:35:15). For more information on Dr. Weikart's book Unnatural Death: Medicine's Descent from Healing to Killing please click here.https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-unnatural-death-medicines-descent-from-healing-to-killing-hup/Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are  on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

00:49 Meta's Zuckerberg reverses course on Facebook censorship as Republicans take over government06:19 Missouri State University defies trend, continues DEI spending09:01 Want better public schools? Create competition, argues school choice expert10:47 Medical schools update Hippocratic Oath to include DEI, social justice11:56 Senate could vote soon on bill banning transgender athletes in girls' sports13:36 Mel Gibson is 'elated' his home burned to the ground17:03 Adam Carolla spits facts about the Democratic voters of California18:20 CNN's Scott Jennings compares disaster response in California to Florida20:07 ABC's Jon Karl on Trump: 'Why is this even being prosecuted?'21:28 Oklahoma Senator Mullin roasts Dems during Hegseth confirmation hearing24:08 Staff FavoritesFollow The Lion on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter and follow our coverage at ReadLion.com. To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A new academic study shows that Republicans are much more likely to spread information that they know to be false than Democrats are: https://www.ama.org/2024/12/09/study-republicans-respond-to-political-polarization-by-spreading-misinformation-democrats-dont/ A judgement of over $14 million against ExxonMobil for violations of the federal Clean Air Act at their Baytown facilities is upheld: https://environmentamerica.org/texas/media-center/release-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals-rules-against-exxon-for-fourth-time-affirms-record-clean-air-act-penalty/ A medical student at UT Austin - a first generation immigrant herself - writes on the dilemma that new doctors face in taking the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm under Texas' requirement for hospitals to interrogate patients on their immigration status: https://www.statnews.com/2024/12/12/texas-hospitals-are-you-a-citizen-medical-school-physicians/ ...While Texas hospitals are part of a national trend of new mothers being reported to authorities when the drugs used to control pain during childbirth are found in the bloodstreams of their babies: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2024/12/11/pregnant-hospital-drug-test-medicine Submit your nominations for our annual rundown of The Best And Worst Texans of the year! Deadline is the end of the day Friday: https://progresstexas.org/blog/best-worst-texans-2024-help-us-decide Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On today's The Truth Central, Dr. Jerome Corsi talks with Dr. Charles Hoffe, who is fighting for his professional life after being persecuted for merely seeking to warn people about potential health hazards stemming from the COVID vaccines. "Do no harm" is an important tenet of the Hippocratic Oath, and Dr. Hoffe has been persecuted, chastised and had his career ruined for upholding that sacred promise.On April, 2021 Dr Charles Hoffe sent an open letter to the BC Provincial Health Officer, Dr Bonnie Henry, informing her of the injuries sustained by his own patients from the COVID vaccines, and questioning the ethics of continuing to administer a harmful vaccine.On May, 2021, the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons issued a statement warning doctors not to question the public health narrative, and that any doctors who did so, would be investigated and possibly disciplined. Dr Hoffe continued to be a vocal advocate for patient safety, medical ethics and the Hippocratic oath.In February, 2022, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC issued a citation against Dr Hoffe alleging that he “engaged in unprofessional conduct” and contravened the CMA Code of Ethics by raising questions with regard to vaccine injuries and early treatment.Visit The Truth Central website: https://www.thetruthcentral.comIf you like what we are doing, please support our Sponsors:Get RX Meds Now: https://www.getrxmedsnow.comMyVitalC https://www.thetruthcentral.com/myvitalc-ess60-in-organic-olive-oil/Swiss America: https://www.swissamerica.com/offer/CorsiRMP.phpGet Dr. Corsi's new book, The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: The Final Analysis: Forensic Analysis of the JFK Autopsy X-Rays Proves Two Headshots from the Right Front and One from the Rear, here: https://www.amazon.com/Assassination-President-John-Kennedy-Headshots/dp/B0CXLN1PX1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20W8UDU55IGJJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ymVX8y9V--_ztRoswluApKEN-WlqxoqrowcQP34CE3HdXRudvQJnTLmYKMMfv0gMYwaTTk_Ne3ssid8YroEAFg.e8i1TLonh9QRzDTIJSmDqJHrmMTVKBhCL7iTARroSzQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=jerome+r.+corsi+%2B+jfk&qid=1710126183&sprefix=%2Caps%2C275&sr=8-1Join Dr. Jerome Corsi on Substack: https://jeromecorsiphd.substack.com/Visit The Truth Central website: https://www.thetruthcentral.comGet your FREE copy of Dr. Corsi's new book with Swiss America CEO Dean Heskin, How the Coming Global Crash Will Create a Historic Gold Rush by calling: 800-519-6268Follow Dr. Jerome Corsi on X: @corsijerome1Our link to where to get the Marco Polo 650-Page Book on the Hunter Biden laptop & Biden family crimes free online:https://www.thetruthcentral.com/marco-polo-publishes-650-page-book-on-hunter-biden-laptop-biden-family-crimes-Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth-central-with-dr-jerome-corsi--5810661/support.

All Good Things: “Murder She Wrote - TNG's ‘Suspicions'” Welcome back to All Good Things on the BQN and Fandom Podcast Network! Christos and Kristin kick off a brand-new “Murder She Wrote” series with a deep dive into Star Trek: The Next Generation's “Suspicions” (Season 6, Episode 22).   In this character-driven mystery, Dr. Beverly Crusher steps out of her role as Chief Medical Officer, breaking Starfleet rules to solve the death of a Ferengi scientist. We explore Beverly as a rebel, scientist, and advocate for life, examine her dynamic with Nurse Ogawa, and discuss the ethical conflict between her Hippocratic Oath and Starfleet's Prime Directive.   The episode also presents a classic whodunit with a fascinating cast of characters, and we break down key moments, continuity connections, and Crusher's evolving role in the Star Trek universe. Was Beverly ahead of her time, or unfairly judged? Beam aboard for all this and more!

Pill pusher or servant of humanity? Let's define what a doctor is. Core values matter, like the Hippocratic Oath. They should constantly be questioning. A doctor should never be all knowing. They should be giving knowledge to help you. Trans community horrors with lots of suicides and violence. Sex change procedures bring lots of questions. No clear consenting and informing parties. Misinformed doctors, what then? Lots of children killing themselves. Medical consent is not understandable by children. Trans surgical descriptions are horrific. How to urinate stool. Back in the day, it used to be called sex and not gender. The white coat meant a lot. Much of this is medical fraud. The case of the fake opposite gender twins. Disturbed, self loathing and immoral describes the doctor John Money. An interview with Dr. Simone Gold. Non physicians are somehow setting standards of care. The suffering is great, but compassionate care must be real. Dr. Levine seeks to lower age limits for childhood sterilization. Mutilation is not a right. Our children cannot wait. She spoke out on the Covid lies. Doing away with medical insurance. Innovation with a group patient strategy. Mutilating a healthy body is never good care. Some info on a new healthcare plan called GoldCare. Public trust of the medical industry is at an all time low. As a nation, it is critical that we return to a system of true citizen health care.

My guest today is Dr. Nikki Johnson, a former pediatrician and co-director of FAIR in Medicine. We dive deep into the challenges parents face in finding trustworthy medical providers for their children and the broader implications of the current healthcare system. Dr. Nikki shares her journey through medical training and her eventual departure from clinical practice due to ethical concerns and the corporatization of medicine.We discuss the concept of perverse incentives in healthcare, particularly how insurance reimbursement structures can compromise the quality of care. Dr. Nikki highlights the shift in focus from patient-centered care to a more corporate-driven model, which often prioritizes profit over patient well-being. We also explore some lesser-known impacts of the Affordable Care Act on the medical landscape, including the rise of non-physician providers, and the challenges this poses for traditional medical practices.Throughout our conversation, we aim to empower parents to trust their instincts when it comes to their children's health and to advocate for better care. We also touch on the importance of transparency in healthcare and the need for a return to a more personal, relationship-driven approach to medicine. This episode is a call to action for parents to be informed and engaged in their children's healthcare decisions.Nicole “Dr. Nikki” M. Johnson, MD DNBPAS, has a B.S. in Biology from Case Western Reserve University and a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Nikki earned certification in both General Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. She is passionate about reforming healthcare and wishes to see medicine restored to a focus on the individual doctor-patient relationship where physicians are bound by the Hippocratic Oath, and patients have affordable evidence-based care, choice, and transparency. She works as an independent consultant with those who help her achieve her mission. Dr. Nikki has a record of advocacy and service. She is the director of FAIR In Medicine and an advisor for Affirming Reality Connected. She is the past President and a Co-founder of PHYSICIANS FOR PATIENTS and a contributing author of Free2Care's A Physician-Led Roadmap to Patient-Centered Medical Care. Dr. Nikki also served as a Senior Fellow for Restore Childhood and a team member of Urgency of Normal. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband and two daughters. 00:00 Start[00:00:11] Parental responsibility in healthcare.[00:06:34] Corporate influence in healthcare.[00:10:21] Loss of patient care autonomy.[00:12:13] Healthcare system challenges and solutions.[00:16:00] Affordable Care Act implications.[00:19:34] Nursing shortage and healthcare changes.[00:24:14] ROGD Repair for Parents.[00:29:43] Medical ethics and political influence.[00:32:14] Perverse incentives in healthcare.[00:36:56] Therapy payout disparities and ethics.[00:40:36] Direct primary care transparency.[00:43:43] Direct primary care benefits.[00:49:21] Corporate infiltration in healthcare.[00:50:39] Pediatric endocrinologists and gender identity.[00:54:02] Finding the right therapist.[00:58:06] Parental instincts in healthcare.[01:01:38] Empowering parental decision-making.[01:06:55] Parental challenges in healthcare.[01:10:14] Parental advice on medical issues.[01:12:54] Parental influence on children's choices.[01:17:10] Parenting and device management.[01:21:34] Advocacy against gender ideology.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community for Parents is available now! Are you concerned about an adolescent or young adult with Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria? Join at ROGDrepair.com and get instant access to over 100 lessons designed to equip you with the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2024 to take 50% off your first month.TALK TO ME: book a discovery call.LOCALS: Ask questions of me & guests; get early access to new episodes + exclusive content. Join my community.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.EIGHTSLEEP: Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration. SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join...

Promises To Keep. In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand. Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected.. Note to readers: There is a bit of mangling of the Iliad going on. My apologies to Homer and the countless singers before him who carried the Iliad down through the dark centuries until the Greeks figured out how writing works. “Never judge a friend by what they give, but of how much of themselves they give.” (From the floor of Katrina's office) First thoughts,  I was on the floor where I had fallen, surrounded and being manhandled in the tenderest way. That was a romantic means of relating to my mummification. Those little Band-Aids that had been applied when I woke up from my coma had failed the 'Cáel is a Smeckle-head' test. All the crud they had pumped into my system and amperage they had channeled through my muscles was not the same as eating and exercise. Having a sexual romp with two ladies? My Goddess made plans for my body that my caloric bank account couldn't afford, thus me passing out. Unlike my time with Miyako and Estere, I had a feeling my two sofa-buddies were ovulating. Fatherhood was on the way. How my infant would survive the continuous poisonous assault on the augur's lymphatic system was beyond me. Her guardian, let's just say I dealt with sneaky bitches/Dot on a regular basis and leave it at that. "He is awake," Tadêfi alerted the room. "You must leave so I can deliver my message to him in the privacy he requested." "I am almost done," a different Amazon voice stated. She was the medico dealing with my wounds. By the aroma, she had slathered on two coats of the healing goo that was becoming as comfortable to my nostrils as my soap-on-a-rope. A few more rounds of adhesive tape and the exodus from the room began. I hadn't opened my eyes because I was unprepared for the looks of anger, disappointment and concern surely leveled my way. The door shut and my eyes opened. "The Conqueror, the Champion, the Friendless and the Foe have all escaped the Land of the Endless Black Sands and returned to the Sunlit Realm," Tadêfi whispered upon my lips. Huh? That was it? Seriously, four freaking titles without, And here came the rest, faces. Faces with eyes and eyes with a purpose. Names, not names I wanted to hear at the moment. Bad fucking news all around. It couldn't be something helpful like the identity of the next High Priestess, No, that would be good fucking news. Okay, time to turn this frown upside down. I could make this work for me. How, I wasn't sure. "Thank you," I responded to Tadêfi's plea of understanding. Outside of having impregnating sex with me, the Sex-Master, Timothy was going to Nerf-shoot me for that, she'd endured spiritual, mental and physical grief and torment to be with me here today. She waited, kneeling beside my head. "Kiss me," I requested. It was a moist act, full of compassion and understanding. I racked my mind for the names and their importance. "Who was Shammuramat?" "I don't know, but this helps, right?" Tadêfi expressed her need to make the reward for the sacrifices to make sense. Five dead sister-augurs. They had to find that son-of-a-bitch! "Tadêfi, we are back in the fight," I grinned. "You and your sisters have given the Host a mighty weapon in the upcoming struggle." I knew that to be true because I knew who and where the Conqueror was, I knew he wasn't ready to be revealed, his enemies were closing in and he was ignorant of that fact. I was going to have to rain on his parade to save his life. The five augurs hadn't died futilely. The Weave of Fate had shielded the man and it took the augers' fanatical devotion to cut the threads and expose the truth the Host needed most. The Champion, hell, I knew who he was. I chuckled. Tadêfi was confused. The Champion was coming to kill me, me and a bunch of other Amazons, because blood feuds tend to run both ways. The Foe. He was easy enough. Granddad. The Bastard just wouldn't stay dead. I had a clue to what was going on now. I wasn't sure how useful that knowledge would be. Still, knowledge is knowledge. That thing crawling around inside my brain? No help there. That left Shammuramat. That name was familiar. Even when I finally placed it, I didn't understand her role in things. Why her? "Krasimira," I called out. I struggled to sit up and with Tadêfi's help, I did so. The Keeper and two guardians entered as well. One, Sikia, hovered over her companion/augur. "What is the link between Shammuramat and the Host?" I inquired. I saw no recognition in the Keeper's eyes. "She was the first ever "independent" queen of a nation-state, Assyria." Krasimira sat on the sofa and retrieved her tablet from inside her robes. She began working with the electronic history of the Amazon race. "9th Century BCE," I added. Slowly others migrated back into the room. Buffy, Katrina (not good and not happy), Elsa (really not good) and Desiree. Pamela leaned against the door sill, neither in nor out. Katrina sat behind her desk. The phone came out and whispered conversations began in earnest. I had shoved us straight into a war which looked like a free for all at the moment. No one trusted anyone. No one could afford to. I had to change that. The only saving grace was that it appeared no Secret Society had planned for the Protocols to abruptly end a week and a half ago. "Ah, I found it," Krasimira spoke up. Because I'm me, it was at that moment I finally realized that someone had put me in my biking shorts in an effort to provide me a modicum of modesty, with the benefit of blood being smeared on the inside. "She abandoned the Host, she was put under a death sentence for killing her twin sister who was chosen to lead House Anat over her." "Anat?" I queried. "The other dead First House," Krasimira sighed. "They were renowned for their berserkers. Some would drape themselves in the entrails of their enemies in the midst of battle to increase their ferocious appearance." "Oh, how sweet, what was Ishara known for?" I was surprised I'd never asked. "Ishara were the emissaries of the Host," Krasimira informed me. With the Amazon practice of killing embassies sent their way, the extinction of my house made much more sense. "What does this mean?" Desiree took charge of matters since Katrina was still busy on the phone. In a few short weeks, Desiree's prestige had definitely increased. Katrina was her sister in more than name now. "Where to begin,  Fine, why don't we refer to the Mycenaeans by their proper Amazon name?" Everyone but Buffy was glancing about nervously. "You used the name, didn't you?" Elsa rubbed the bridge of her nose, dreading the response. "Yes, " I answered. "Because no one warns him of shit," Pamela huffed. "You assume an Amazon education with no basis in reality. You act like he grew up with our fairy tales and phantasmal histories. Everyone in this room, but Buffy," she acknowledge my First, "knew he spoke our language and the accompanying risk. Still, no one warned him." "You didn't warn him," Desiree skewered Pamela with a glance. "Not my job, Buttons," Pamela chuckled. "I relish the rest of you being made to look like idiots too much to be useful to Cáel unless it really matters. So he invoked an ancient malediction. What is the worst that could happen?" "I'm going to make a huge deductive leap, am I the reason the Achaean hero Ajax and his boys are back from the dead and coming after us for some Ako-level vengeance?" I groaned. (That's the 47 Ronin for us Westerners) Silence. "That's not your fault, Sport," Pamela snorted. "Mano-man, was I a dumbass for doing nothing. I'll take the blame for that one ladies. Damn Cáel, you would have to pick the Unconquered One, wouldn't you?" "Who is this guy and why does he hate us?" Buffy interjected. Pause. "Our ancestors poisoned his wine so that, in his angry haze, he mistook his own men for his enemies and slaughtered them all, back during the Trojan War. Afterwards, he committed suicide in anguish over his crime, Death opened his eyes at the last, he saw our treachery and managed to curse us as he died," Krasimira informed the lot of us. "And my using that word brought him back? That sounds, weak," I grunted. "The word would not have been enough," Tadêfi comforted me. "There must have been some sort of rift in the curtain of Reality that allowed the others to slip through. I don't understand how, oh no," she gasped as the pieces came together. "I'm willing to believe that was the price of doing business," I petted Tadêfi's cheek. "Please enlighten us," Elsa grumbled. "I need to find the Earth  and  Sky ambassador and set up a new meeting. Using what Tadêfi has gifted me with and the sacrifice of her fellow augurs, I can secure an alliance for us if only I can make up for the whole stunt Troika played," I grinned. "Any ideas?" "We could call them," Pamela produced my phone. "Seems some lady named Hana Sulkanen has been trying for days to get in touch with you. She hunted down the owner of the necklace, they talked about your current physical state, courtesy of Odette, and the owner of the necklace has expressed a continued interest in meeting you, and only you. It would appear that they really don't trust the rest of our merry little band since your first disappearance." Hana, and here I had killed her step-brother, the one she despised. An unexpected benefit of civil discourse, my People's chance of survival had doubled. Pamela lobbed my phone and I caught it. "What of the other two?" Tadêfi pushed down on my euphoria. "Was the Foe dead as well?" A quick look at Pamela told me she knew the answer to that. "The Foe is complicated," I lied. "His return was an inevitability, so we count that as a draw. The Champion, bad news. Let's put Shammy in the 'maybe' column and the Conqueror is a win for our side." A Berserker Queen, fresh from the Underworld, who we were honor-bound to kill,  or the 'other lost heir to a dead House' that was going to make us cobble together some nonsense to bring her back into the fold. If I wasn't the male leader of a spiritually significant All-Girls social club/paramilitary outfit, I might have been daunted by my prospects of achieving the latter. "The thing going on inside your head?" Elsa asked. That explained her presence. My mental capacity was still suspect. Was I still me? Could I flip out with no warning? "It is still there. I still have no idea what happened to me, or what the results might be. This means I'm going into battle wounded and that's that," I stated. "Are you acting in the best interest of the Host," Elsa studied me. "I am not sure," I confessed after half a minute's introspection. "So many of you are fuck-nuts; I'm not sure what acting responsible is for this set," I added jokingly. "As it stand, you lack the authority to pass judgment on me, Elsa. I promise you that if I feel I'm losing control, I will turn myself in." "Saint Marie would feel better if you stayed here," Elsa insisted. "Is the SD declaring war on House Ishara?" Buffy rose to the challenge. "We (by that she meant my fellow Isharans) have discussed the matter and talked to our best neuroscientist. She cannot definitively tell us Cáel isn't Cáel, so there is no reason to constrain him." Whoa. In our best prospect's educated opinion I was not-not me. Legions of English teachers weren't going to like that. "I have the answer for that," Katrina spoke up. "I owe Cáel and I would pay that debt now. He expressed a desire to see my niece, Aya. Do you still wish that Cáel Ishara?" "More than ever, but the Council is meeting," I sighed. "Buffy is your (dead word spoken), your apprentice," Katrina suggested. "Appoint someone to stand with her." That was more than good advice. Buffy was a woman and, to those who knew of her, as fierce an Amazon as ever lived. That was what Katrina was telling me without telling me. "I choose Daphne Pile, if she will accept, to stand by Buffy's side," I announced. Buffy would need someone who was passionate for my cause and who spoke Old Kingdom Hittite. Buffy still didn't, and the chance of the Council speaking English on her behalf was non-existent. "That is Daphne of House Cotyttia," Pamela corrected me. Who Cotyttia was? I had no idea. I was stupid to think Daphne's actual Amazon surname was Pile. Daphne wasn't even around. Executive Services was functioning fine without me and that meant Daphne had a work queue. "The Thracian Goddess of Sex, Orgies, War and Slaughter," Krasimira gracefully filled in my ignorance. Another whoa, why wasn't she my matron goddess? Tadêfi hauled off and slapped me. The action seemed to take everyone, Tadêfi included, by surprise. "I don't know why I did that," Tadêfi wailed out in despair. I did. It didn't take telepathy to figure out what I had been thinking. To prove my point, Pamela laughed. I cupped Tadêfi's jaw. "Worry not," I cooed. "I had that coming, Dot Ishara," I dodged another one, "isn't happy with me right now." Recall, Tadêfi was hooked up to an old-fashioned party line with the Beyond. "Animaniacs," Pamela snorted. "I so love you. It is my deep and abiding pleasure to have you as my Grandson." "I'm not your grandson," I countered. "Well, I say you are. Now be quiet and accept the shame," Pamela's eyes danced with amusement. "That makes me, Daphne and Brielle incest," I pointed out. "Amazons don't have an incest taboo," Pamela retorted. Duh. They are all women, no chance of seven fingered, Cyclops babies. "Ah, women, misunderstanding and pain, Buffy, would you check out Quebec and see if I'm still wanted in that province for bestiality. It could be important later," I commanded. "Bestiality?" only one woman failed to mutter, sputter or exclaimed. "The complainant in question is not that pissed at you anymore," Katrina's rolodex mind kicked in. "I believe she expressed a desire to question you about some missing accoutrements though." My splitting headache meant I had to think about that, ah yes, her dress uniform. It was/had been Canada Day, thus her having an official function and thus me cheating with the girl from across the hall in the Mountie's bed. I'm an idiot alright and my ability to keep an eye on the clock needs improvement. My last image of her, frothing at the mouth (she was a tad more possessive than I had anticipated) as she screamed out insults in Quebecois French concerning my lineage, personality failings and the treasured parts of my anatomy. She punctuated various parts of that deranged episode by hurling articles of her clothing over the border at me as I turned (once I had good Ole US soil/pavement under my feet) and tried to get us back together. Yes, I had them, just not in my Box of Failed Romances. Acting on hopes of reconciliation, I had the uniform dry cleaned, placed in a dress bag, and the boots polished; both currently occupying space in my closet. At least the Alburgh-Noyan Crossing guards (it is a dual Canadian-American post) appreciated me evading/begging forgiveness long enough for them to see her in only her bra and panties. I imagine they didn't normally get much excitement there. "Katrina, " I began. "Yes, Maya forgives you too, though she scored an 'At Risk' for reliability. Anais sounded genuine," Katrina related. Anais was the Mountie. Maya was the Guyane Française university student from across the hall, the one I was caught cheating with. I had told her I was Anais's brother. Maya was also a super-exceptional cook. "Cáel Ishara, who are these women we are talking about?" Sikia demanded. 'We', that didn't take long. We were now a 'we', which in Amazon meant 'male, you're my property'. "I have a sideline job as an Amway distributor," I replied. "I give crappy customer service." "You give awesome customer service," Katrina riposted. "That's the problem." "Sikia, you are not the first Amazon Cáel has stuck his dick into. You are probably not the tenth," Elsa dripped with frustration. Quick count: Rhada, Buffy, Oneida and Gael, I was only going to count the penile-vaginal penetrations. "They are only numbers five and six, thank you very much," I defended myself. "So much for your 'intern, no sex' policy," Desiree muttered. "Cut me some slack, I work with stone-cold, Olympic level athlete foxes 24/7," I griped. "I am a sexual being too, I have needs." "What about the 'End of Internship' hunting shindig?" Desiree pulled a flawless 'Katrina'. "Oh, it is still on. With my 'do or die' learning curve, it is going to be so much more fun," I grinned. "And, okay, no more Amazon sex until then, sorry Rachel." "Except for house members," Buffy insisted. "No exceptions," Elsa demanded. "I'll keep an eye on him," Pamela resolved the issue. "No more Amazon boinking for him." She was such a liar. She was also a highly accomplished liar because everyone bought it. On with my life. Stage one: exit Katrina's office. Done deal, no problems. Stage two: set up meeting with the Earth  and  Sky. They wanted to meet on their ground. Since I was the uncertain factor in these negotiations, I agreed. I was bringing one, Pamela raised four fingers, four people with me. Who? Outside of Pamela, I had no idea. Stage three: going to medical and putting on my business suit, it was a new one and very, very nice. I was moving up into serious majestic magnate territory. I also picked up buddy number two, FBI Special Agent Virginia Maddox. Why had I chosen a federal agent to accompany me to a meeting between two secret societies? I hadn't a clue. Sometimes you have to roll with these things. In the lobby, I picked up number three, Delilah, Mom's MI-6 operative/baby-sitter. Compassionate, caring people were surrounding me all the time. It gave me this sensation of a 'down home' environment no matter where I went, if down home was Gaza, or Donetsk. I think my entourage/lifestyle observation teams had grown to encompass six cars. I was in no condition for riding my bike, so that recourse was denied me. Taxi? One, most were hard-working stiffs like my family who didn't deserve to be caught in a noontime, drive-by assassination attempt. Besides, with my luck I'd meet the guy from Qatar again, the one with the sister with cute eyes. That reminded me, I gave Nicole a call. "How are you doing?" she quickly inquired. "Good," I lied to a past master of shattering perjury. Pause. "I'm surrounded by girls with guns, tailed by your clients, some part of a Federal Task force and some people who I don't know yet. Hold on." I put my hand over my phone. "Delilah, are you packing heat?" I asked softly. She opened her jacket revealing paired revolvers in shoulder holsters. I didn't recognize them so the Brit gave me the 4-1-1. "Ruger Alaskans," she grinned. Bing! Now I recalled them. The girl who taught me to shoot once read some reviews of that beast on her laptop while I gave her a slow, passionate screw from behind. She became all hot and bothered, wiggling, squirming and generally having a grandiose time with my cock deep within. I repeat, this girl really loved guns, a huge cerebral G-spot for her. Oh yeah, the Ruger Alaskan is what you get if you are worried about Grizzly bears popping their heads through the tent flaps late at night. Delilah was probably packing 4 80's. Her guns would turn 250 kilograms of pissed off ursine into an excellent throw-rug in about two shots. In an urban environment,  well, maybe she thought the New York Giants were actually giants, or something like that. Two were overkill, unless you expected someone needing to borrow one. "Just checked. I remain the only one unarmed in my personal carnival of carnage, " my words trailed up to an unintelligible mumble. I was mumbling because suddenly four handguns were casually offered up for my use (Tiger Lily was holding one over her shoulder as she drove), in the same way you'd offer up some Nicorette to a man jonesing for a smoke. Rachel was kind enough to hand me my familiar Glock-22 and Ruger 38 caliber with their accompanying holsters. Two spare clips followed, then I stashed the lot. I scratched my calf. It took me a second to realize I was reaching for my pistol. No, not the one at my hip, or my ankle, but the one, in my boot? "Now that you've been handed firearms of dubious origin, can I get back to questioning you," the FBI agent intruded upon my ruminations. "We were discussing that list of people that are visiting a morgue instead of a court room. What can you tell me?" "Bye Nicole. Miss you. Being interrogated by a blonde FBI lady with a whips scar on her eyebrow and eyes that could scare a badger back into its hole. Later," I cut of my lawyer's fierce demand that I keep my mouth shut. "Nothing useful that wouldn't implicate myself and others in a criminal conspiracy," I answered her. "There is no way I'd name anyone else I suspect of involvement. I feel no guilt over what has happened, so no remorseful confession, and that is based on my belief that cosmic justice has been achieved." "You can't create lists of people for execution," Maddox persisted. "That negates the whole justice system and the principle of innocent until proven guilty." Wow! Except for the two of us, every other person in the car snorted their derision of Maddox's presumptive naiveté. "Do you even believe the tripe spilling from your pie-hole?" Delilah mocked Maddox. "I'm in law enforcement. That means I enforce the laws, not interpret them, or choose which ones I want to obey and which ones to ignore," Virginia fought back. "Love, that's crap and you know it. You are an agent of the US government. You bomb, drone-strike, overthrow lawfully elected governments and assassinate in your nation's best interests," Delilah countered. "You selectively enforce your Constitution when it suits you." "I'm law enforcement, not the military or foreign affairs. Know the difference," Maddox glared. "The pay master is the same,  you willingly collect your thirty pieces of silver; get off your high horse because you are in the shat now, Agent Maddox. I haven't known this crowd an hour and I know for a fact that you are the only US citizen onboard," Delilah chortled. "I don't know their bleeding nationality, but I doubt it is on the UN Charter." Maddox turned to me. "That was succinct and rather accurate," I murmured. "Special Agent Maddox, I have the sneaking suspicion that you are with us because FP (federal prosecutor) Castello feels you can handle this, Umm, unusual set of circumstance. I promise you this, it is going to get worse." "Why don't we test this quaint theory?" FBI Lass challenged us. "Jail, bail, and I'm waking up in Rio de Janeiro in two days," I sighed. "I have a few thousand in the bank, live in a hole and own my father's home, when it clears probate. Only you know I'm flight risk. A dozen people will vouch/lie about my character and that's that. All you've succeeding in doing is making enemies when you need friends." "There is still a matter of multiple people dead under suspicious circumstance," she said. "Imagine for a second that Cáel admits to creating a hit list," Pamela began. "He would never give up the names of the other people involved. He didn't kill anyone, or say 'kill them'. Now what? You still have an abysmal case to put before a judge. Add to that, the mitigating factor of a raped girl. You get to break her down until she's a cooperating witness because she's the only one who can provide you with Cáel's motive," my mentor continued. "Good for you and your team. She gets to betray the man who tried to save her. Cáel promised horrific retribution if any of those in the now-dead crowd hurt her. That is rather unlike him, he normally forgives when given the least excuse. I don't give a damn about women's rights, or the rights of rape victims. I really could give a shit about human rights for that matter. Wronging me is the surest way to early retirement. It is not a matter of strong versus weak, or right versus wrong. What matters to me is who I can trust. I don't know you, thus I don't trust you. I trust your government to be so much chicken shit. I base this on the lack of public torture and execution. I want the families of dying criminals paraded in front of those cock-suckers before the condemned finally perish in agony. I want to see thieves get their forearms hacked off, trial by combat, and respect for your elders. I want to see public officials being sacrificed upon the altar of Jehovah when they leave office. I want to see a system of justice with a soul, not law books thicker than an aircraft carrier's hull. A government 'of the People, by the People, for the People' should be the sole guiding force for your culture and we both know that's never going to happen. I admire your soldiers; not because they are brave and combat effective, they are. I admire them because they are fighting and dying for elected officials and a population that can't locate Afghanistan, or Iraq on a map, can't tell the difference between a Sikh and a Muslim, and thinks 'Pashtun' is an exotic piece of furniture. I admire them because they are better human beings despite you, not because of you," Pamela was coming to her crescendo. "Basically you people, by that I mean most of the human race, are dangerous in your idiocy, arrogance and pride in your ignorance. Not one of you should be allowed to use weapons, or play with fire. For you, unrestricted voting is a crime right up there with inventing, disease prevention, bilingualism and anything that perpetuates your educational system." "Lady, why are you so angry with the world?" Maddox studied Pamela intensely. I wished her luck with divining and then unwrapping that lady's mind. "I hold dear to my heart anyone's hunger to learn, honesty when it hurts and love no matter what the cost, so I find myself alone most of the time," Pamela grinned. "Above even those, I adore humor in the face of ridicule, condemnation and adversity. You can dodge bullets and parry knives. Humor always strikes home," she finished. "It is the perfect weapon." "Liar," I smiled. "You like high performance automobiles too." Did she? I didn't know. "Only with a 2X4 pressing the accelerator as it races toward the lip of a canyon," Pamela bantered back, "with Ursula K. Le Guin strapped in the back seat." "Who?" I inquired. "She's an author. I take exception to some of her work and unwillingness to appreciate the fusion of exceptional feminine characteristics with power positions," Pamela answered. "And your critique of her life's work is an exploding car at the bottom of a cliff?" I smiled. "Starting uncontrolled wildfires and littering, two of my favorite activities," she laughed. "I'll stick with blondes and brunettes, and red- and raven-haired, bald has its own appeal, green and purple have their own kink going on, " I joked. "Wait! We were talking about people being murdered and you two are cracking jokes?" Maddox rumbled. "I had a dream about tying them together with nylon cord and tossing them off the back ramp of a transport aircraft, and watching them fall, and fall," Rachel sighed dreamily. "Atta girl," I play-punched Rachel's shoulder. "What is your part in all of this?" Maddox turned to Rachel. "I'm the head of his bodyguard detail," Rachel gave her confession of the damned. "And you want to kill him, " Virginia struggled to keep up. "Given time, you will too," Rachel promised. "According to his pre-employment records, only one woman he's had a sexual relationship with hasn't wanted to at least hurt him," glaring at me, "badly." "The nun doesn't want me dead!" I vocally protested. "It is so wrong that you are proud that of over 200 women you've slept with, TWO have not, at some point in knowing you, wanted to maul you and one of those is in the 'forgiving' business," Rachel chastised me. Virginia had an answer for my madness. Her phone came out and she hit speed-dial, work. "Ms. Castello, this is Special Agent Maddox, do you have a moment?" Virginia calmly asked when she finally wrangled my current-favorite fed's attention. "You do now? Thank you. I'd like to know what the fuck have you done to me? This assignment is nuts. Either I'm part of some elaborate prank, or I'm in an S U V with escapees from the looney bin." Ten seconds later Maddox gave me the phone. "Stop it. I've upheld my end of the bargain, so behave," Javiera ordered. Man, she'd shot me straight to the core and we hadn't even slept together yet. Clever, clever girl. "Yes Ma'am," I swore. "I'll do my best to buffer Special Agent Maddox from the truth." "I'll have to accept that," Javiera conceded. "Give Maddox the phone back." A brief conversation later and Maddox was no better off than when she started. Thankfully we parked in front of the Kazakhstan Consulate in New York, giving us all an excuse to face facts. Maddox was feeling compelled to ask questions she didn't want the answers to, and that we didn't want to answer. Saved by work. "Kazakhstan Consulate? Why are we here?" both Virginia and Rachel asked. "Oh! This is going to be good," Pamela leaned forward excitedly. "Change the course of human history," I answered with a great deal of confidence I didn't feel. See, I had knowledge critical to the Earth  and  Sky. That knowledge was also something they wanted kept compartmentalized, so they might take exception to it being possessed by an outsider. Oh,  so that's why Pamela earlier insisted on four ladies being with me, so we could shoot our way out if things turned ugly. I hugged my mentor. "Thank you, Pamela." "You are coming along nicely, Mr. Potter," Pamela patted my cheek. "Your praise leaves me suspicious, Professor Snape. Besides, if I'm going to die, it helps me to know you'll go first ." "That was uncalled for," Pamela chided me. It was the 'Snape' role she rejected. "Snape gave up his life for Harry, Dumbledore died for Draco," I countered. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that," Pamela shone with joy and pride. "You act like I have a choice," I sighed. "Touché," Pamela nodded. "I see what you mean about these two," Maddox addressed Rachel. "Oh my God," Delilah laughed. "You wove Harry Potter into a life and death conversation and it made sense. I am probably going to die, but I'll die knowing I have lived." "Not you too?" Maddox glared at Delilah. Rachel just shook her head. We exited the car, settled ourselves out. Rachel took point, Delilah took one flank while Pamela took the other. By happenstance, I ended up in the middle, yeah right, with Virginia covering my back. "You stay here," Pamela put a hand on Rachel's shoulder. "You'll need to lead the team in if someone 'pumps up the volume'." Interesting euphemism for 'when people start killing people'. "What are we doing today?" Miyako 'appeared'. She'd been walking down the sidewalk toward us, the Kazak Consulate was a townhouse, but her presence hadn't registered. "I require your pledge of silence on what is to transpire. No death is intended," I stated calmly to Miyako. "I didn't know you were versed in ninja contracts, much less spoke Japanese?" Miyako responded. Blink. "I didn't know I spoke it either, " I mumbled. "No sweat," Pamela tried to hustle us along. "He's a quick study." Yeah. I didn't feel it apropos to point out I hadn't heard myself speaking Japanese, or understood that my words had some secret meaning. "How important is this to my people?" Miyako asked. Now that I was paying attention to it, I could make out that she was speaking in her native tongue. "If they don't think we can be trusted to not speak of what is to transpire for a week, they are going to kill us," I related my suspicions. "My mind and heart are joined in this decision." "I give you my pledge," Miyako nodded. She looped her arm in mine. "Does anyone care to enlighten me?" Maddox prodded. Whoa. It seemed that, beside me and Miyako, only Pamela spoke Japanese. "Special Agent Maddox, no matter what, don't give up your gun, when we say run, run, and shoot to kill because they will be trying to kill us," I informed her. "Does the term 'extraterritoriality' mean anything to anyone here?" Maddox snapped. Her nervousness was totally understandable. I stopped at the top of the steps, looking over my shoulder. I nodded. Pamela, Delilah and Miyako nodded as well. "Hold on, I can't believe I'm saying this. Does anyone have a back-up I can use?" Maddox groaned. Rachel quick-stepped forward and handed over a 22 automatic pistol then a spare clip with a smooth, practiced motion that suggested that SD swapped weapons all the time. Maddox didn't miss the casualness of the gesture. The firearm and magazine disappeared. "Fine, we will never discuss the laws we just butchered, ever, and if I die and any of you make it out alive, I will seek revenge at whatever cost FROM WHEREVER I AM," FBI girl growled. "One of us," Pamela smirked at me as I touched the doorbell. It opened promptly. We weren't on a crowded street, we were on their stoop and a security camera was pointed right at us. We were invited in and two rather Caucasian-looking gentlemen (Kazaks are a mixed bag of Turks and Cumans) were waiting with the doorman. They looked tough in that they took personality lessons from saddle leather. "You will place your weapons there," the more charismatic of the two spoke up. He was pointing to a side table that looked large enough for the task. "No," was the most courteous response I could muster. He didn't look surprised. He didn't look much like he was breathing, or blinking either. "Go," he pointed to the door. I looked to Pamela. "Well, that didn't take long," I grinned. I felt out the necklace under my shirt and pulled it over my head. "Please return this to its owner in the spirit it was given." He took it. The doorman opened the door and out we went. Rachel was back in our GL550, using the door as possible cover. She said we could take our seats and away we rolled. Maddox looked apoplectic. She had prepared herself for the Wild, Wild West, not a doe-see-doe at the door. In her mind, I had wound her up for nothing. My phone rang. "Cáel Ishara, there seems to have been a diplomatic miscommunication," a male native Turkish-speaker said in heavily accented English. "The person you are meeting must be approached in the spirit of peace." "No, I understood you perfectly," I assured him. "We aren't the Brownies, or the Girl Scouts, Buddy. I don't know, or trust you and you don't know, or trust me, yet. I will compromise though. I will respect your traditions. I will enter your home unarmed. In turn, everyone in the building will line up outside on the street except for the person I'm supposed to meet. Is that acceptable?" Pause. "Do you hate these people, or like them?" Maddox grumbled. "With you, I can't quite tell." "That would not be acceptable," the man finally responded. "Perhaps an alternative. You come in, alone yet armed." "Nope. Due to the efforts of people far smarter than me, I know pretty much who I am meeting, so I am either very rude, insane, or bear a message that is worth my life," I countered. "Your personal safety is guaranteed," was the counter-offer. "That is a false promise, not because you lack honor, or respect for me, but because you are from a wise and noble lineage with a historical propensity of cutting to the heart of any problem." By that, I meant they'd cut my heart out. "What I expect is for every one of you to hold the future of the Earth  and  Sky above any such concepts as personal promises, hospitality, and honor. I am even putting my faith in your willingness to put the survival of the Earth  and  Sky over your own well-being," I riposted. "If the message is so crucial, you should be willing to come alone," back at me. "It isn't important to me," I stated. "Listen, a war is about to break out. Unless we both want to be found all alone in the outhouse masturbating when the headsman comes, one of us has to blink. Today, it is you. Tomorrow you may be able to return the favor and mess with my head." Pause. "Your koumiss is getting warm." "We'll be right there. We apologize for the delay. Traffic is murder these days, or a close facsimile thereof," I gave a little back in the humility department. "Tiger Lily, " "On it, Ishara, Wakko Ishara. I've been circling the block," Tiger Lily had anticipated my antics. Sure, I acted like I had no game plan, but I never wasted people's time. Maybe if I developed an actual game plan I could do even better. "Wakko Ishara?" it was Delilah's and Maddox's turn to share a 'what the?' moment. "May I explain the sacred names?" Rachel requested of me. "I have a feeling these two might become a fixture." "By all means, Rachel. Our trust runs deep," I trusted Rachel with more than my life; I trusted her with my future. "Wakko, as in you're the nutty one?" Delilah made a stab at our arcane nomenclature. If you use small words does that make it gnomenclature? Pamela winked at me, psychic twin grandmother powers activate! "We need complementary rings," Pamela remarked. Sweet! "Cáel Ishara is differentiated as Wakko Ishara, Ishara, first of House Ishara, is Yakko Ishara, and, " Rachel began. "The Animaniacs? Your code names are the Warner Brothers and their sister Dot?" Maddox gasped. "You are beyond nuts." "And the Goddess Ishara is named, by House Ishara and House Ishara alone," Rachel made some warding appeal against divine punishment, "as Dot Ishara." Maddox's face shown with disbelief. "Following Cáel Ishara into battle has been one of my greatest pleasures," Rachel stared at Maddox. "I never knew insanity could be so liberating, or that laughing at death could be such an aphrodisiac." "When did you two go into battle?" Delilah wondered. "In a morgue, fighting to retrieve the body of his fallen father so that our enemies could not desecrate it," Rachel explained. Ah, the walls of Troy, fighting over the spoils of the dead. "You mean when I face-planted?" I grinned at Rachel. "Even without a weapon, your instincts were good, forcing our enemy to commit to multiple angles of coverage even though your efforts were foiled by a footing failure. Your rushing their leader was even more heroic in that you were unarmed and using your body as a decoy, knowing your enemy's superior skill would stop him from shooting you," Rachel smiled my way, sex. "Let me get this straight," Miyako finally spoke up. "You charged an enemy unarmed then stumbled and failed. They were armed?" "Yes, with a 3 57 Magnum revolver and a 10 gauge sawed-off automatic shotgun, in tight confines and close range, oh, and no cover." Maddox replied, then to me, "I read the report." "Then you repeated the action a few minutes," Miyako. "Less than a minute later," Maddox clarified. "A minute later, wow! You are as fearless as we've heard. Please don't die before we have a baby," Miyako gave me a quick hug. If you cover a zeppelin with uranium paint, can it still fly, or does it sink to the center of the Earth? Ninja babies, We had returned to the stairs at the Consulate. This time the door swung open upon our approach. "Is there some drug you are all taking to bask in this shared fantasy life?" Maddox mumbled. "One of us," Pamela retorted. "One of us." "One of us," I joined in. It helped cut the tension. The bodyguards were present right where we'd them last time. They ushered us up the stairs to a second floor sitting room that ate up half the floor. There were two men there; radiating that subtle assurance that a half-dozen killers were close by. The man standing was Iskender, the E and S emissary from Dad's funeral. I broke all decorum, strode to the man, locked arms, hugged him tight and patted him on the back. "Thank the spirits you are here," I whispered, "all this lack of dick is making me a bit stir-crazy." "Ah, yes, it is good to see you again too," Iskender imparted as we broke our embrace. His boss, the guy on the sofa, shot me and my Kyrgyz buddy a sharp look. The Main Man was clearly Mongolian and must have thought blank, white walls exhibited too much empathy. "Koumiss," the boss offered. I sipped it from a simple, yet regal drinking mug that probably hit the kiln 200 years ago. "Mare, or yak?" I inquired as I handed the cup around. Iskender came first, but it was clearly my intention that we all partake. It was more a matter of the host's pledge of sanctuary than me wanting to share the koumiss. It tasted like thin, lightly chilled, bitter beer with a vanilla-almond milk shake-chaser. "Mare, of course. Please sit," he offered. He defined the suggestion by slipping off the sofa onto the layered carpet rug. He was semi-reclined, so we followed suit. "We should pray for the protection of the spirits," was the suggestion that wasn't a suggestion. It was his itinerary. He clapped his hands and from beyond a curtained partition came this really sensual Mongolian chick carrying a large brass bowl. She flicked her eyes at me and an instant connection was formed. She liked to bark like a dog under the full moon, okay, I'm not sure where that came from. "Nice woman," I told the leader. "She looks like she has seen many winters." Whoa! Where the fuck did that come from? I got a shocked reaction from Iskender. The Leader looked pissed, if a flake of paint on the white wall indicated anger. The girl blushed like what I said was an incredible turn on. "She is my daughter," the Leader pointed out. Way past swallowing my foot. My ankle was tasty. "My name is Oyuun Tömörbaatar. My faithful Iskender, you know. This is my daughter T. Sarangerel. She is studying at N Y U and is not entertaining marriage proposals at this time," he slapped down his boundaries. Somehow 'I only want to sleep with her' didn't sound like the right response. Wait! Saying his 'daughter had many winters' was a marriage bargaining opening move. What the fuck! "What I meant was that surely many men have died trying to come before you," I back-pedaled. More happy looks from the daughter. More paint peeling from the dad. Pamela made sure more koumiss was going around. Getting drunk could hardly hurt at this juncture. Sarangeral placed the bowl between us. It was filled with clear, cold water undoubtedly collected from a mountain-fed glacier. "Let us cleanse our hands in the water so that we may speak with clarity," O. Tömörbaatar said. We dipped our fingers and, for a second, I saw him. Not 'O', but HIM. "It is good to finally meet you Ferko Ishara Cáel Nyilas," the man said. My Spidey senses told me he was feeling less 'good' about this meeting every second. "How can your people and mine better get along?" 'Let me impregnate your daughter', would probably get my skull split open. "No time for that," I replied. "I know where HE is. The Seven Pillars have found a way to search the Weave and are closing in. You must act with haste." Whether it was disbelief, or old schooled Ku Chun in the art of gambling, the older man gave no outward reaction. "Where is he?" O. Tömörbaatar asked in a gentle tone. "I can do you one better," I steeled myself for the unknown forces I was invoking. I put my hands on the bowl's lip and looked in. Several seconds later, he did as well. For a moment, nothing. It was like a ripple in reverse. The first earth tremor I barely noticed. The ripples grew and grew until I felt the whole row of townhouses would come crashing down. Wind snapped the locks on the windows, flinging them wide open and tearing at the curtains like streamers in a hurricane. Then we saw HIM clearly. HE stopped driving this old, beat-up Peugeot and was pulling to the side of a desolate stretch of highway. HE could sense something yet couldn't pinpoint the source of his unease. We definitely got the impression this wasn't his first taste of this experience, the Seven Pillars. He was young, maybe my age. He looked like an educated man turned vagabond/boundless traveler. HIS eyes, his eyes had a depth that were a microcosm of what I'd glimpsed in Ishara, Dot Ishara's unshielded glance when we first met. All lingering doubts vanished in my mind. "I know that place," O T muttered, his eyes fixated on the only feature in the vacant expanse, a road sign, in Chinese. Yikes. "I know that place." The image faded. Our meeting venue was intact. Whatever I felt transpire, I had shared with O. Tömörbaatar alone. "You have work to do," I stated as I cleared my throat. "I will leave you to it." I stood. "What do you wish for this gift?" O T reached out and touched my sleeve. "When the time comes, maybe you can help us," I replied. "A man who asks for nothing can expect anything," O T smiled for the first time. "Go." I did not take a fear-free breath until the cars started up and we pulled away. He'd let us live. Even with that priceless piece of magical insight, he'd let us live. "I'm still stunned we got out alive," I sighed. "I wasn't really sure he'd take the news as well as he did." No one said anything for a minute. "Why would he have killed us?" Delilah inquired. "You, I understand. I don't know what you communicated to that young lady, but the old guy wasn't happy about it. He was going to kill us over that?" Pause. "What did the rest of you see and hear?" I looked around the cabin. Pamela appeared worried. "I didn't know you spoke Chagatai," Miyako smiled at me. "You are full of surprise. I only caught a word, or two, and none of it made sense." "MRI," I groaned. "Magnetoencephalography," Pamela said in the same breath. "Mine is better, Boyo." "What is going on?" Rachel upped her alertness level. "We need to take Cáel to a hospital that has a Magnetoencephalography device," Pamela insisted. "He's spontaneously speaking languages he didn't know moments earlier, " Maddox put things together first. The rest nodded at her assessment. "We'll need to have his records from Havenstone sent over as a baseline." Poor Virginia, the absurdity of my life was sucking her in. "I'll call Katrina," Rachel informed us. I was a mental case once more. At least my input was still being solicited. "How many guns do you have on you?" Pamela zinged me. The answer was obvious, two. My Glock and my back-up. That didn't seem right. "Ah, two?" I responded. "Yeah, something is happening to your muscle memory as well," Pamela shook her head. "What exactly does that mean, and what's wrong with Cáel's brain?" Delilah studied the group. "It means he could spontaneously pull out his gun and start shooting us?" Pamela confessed her uncertainty. "I don't know. We'd better figure out which impulses are his guiding light right now before that happens." "I don't even know how to begin reporting this," Maddox muttered. "Cheer up. Our Cáel is still currently in charge. Did you appreciate how he lured in that young Mongolian girl? That's classic Cáel," Pamela comforted the crowd. I was saved from a straightjacket because I was a 'Playa'. (Meadowlands Medical Center in far off New Jersey) I'm not political. For me, that means I am completely and utterly dedicated to whatever doctrine that the cutest political campaigner in front of me endorses. Fifteen minutes on the internet and you can fake it like a pro. Be careful to be with the winning team when the results come in. Nothing makes a political chick go wild like sneaking into the candidate's office and screwing her on the newly elected/re-elected figure's desk. Let her scream out her idol's name. Odds are neither of you will be welcomed back afterwards anyway. Why politics now? Javiera called some people. I had a sneaking suspicion that someone I knew and trusted got in touch with my 'Aunts' as well. All I knew for sure was the Hospital's Administrator's phone began ringing off the hook and I'd become the hospital's number one priority. The hospital staff was visibly irritated with the clout raining down on their heads for about an hour. Once they digested my Havenstone records, all of that changed. Holy 'Published in The New England Journal of Medicine', someone had drilled a micro-surgical hole in my skull in the middle of a wrestling match with no resulting cerebral scarring. THEN this unknown device shot into my skull with pinpoint accuracy and pumped a ghastly amount of energy into my cerebrum. They were fascinated. They were so fascinated I heard two medical technicians mutter about where the Zombie Survival Guide could be found. They triple checked my vital signs, again. I was still as much alive as when I checked myself in. There was a rumor that a fire ax disappeared from a stairwell close by, but not one confessed to the deed. I was speaking in languages I had no reason to know? They were surprised I could contain my mouth drool. It was somewhat disheartening to hear three seasoned physicians discuss what probable scenarios could explain me still being in a non-vegetative state,  or alive for that matter. Some poor nurse had to ask. "Do you feel an unnatural, interest in human brains?" she whispered when she though no one was close by. "I'm not sure what you mean," I whispered back. "I always respect a woman's intelligence. Sex is a cerebral passion. What's the point if you can't communicate with your partner?" Pamela slapped me upside my head. That disturbed just about everybody else in the vicinity and my mentor was promptly exiled from the room. I was curious about what havoc she was perpetrating on this establishment. My condition had gotten her past all the heavy security and I knew without seeing that someone high ranking had misplaced their ID badge. Maybe Pamela was the love-child of Batman and Cat woman. Before you think that's comic fanboy talk, recall what my life was like at that moment. Tests ensued. The staff decided that Havenstone employed a bunch of quacks and snake charmers. Two hours later, they found out they were wrong. Larger battery of tests, same results. I was the second coming of Christ, back from the dead, or a zombie living in a convincing state of denial. Some folks wouldn't let that go. Pamela had proved to be prophetic. Her pet gizmo finally provided a new picture of what my neural pathways were up to. If there is any doubt, 'I've never seen that before' is not what you want to hear one of North America's experts in the field of neuroscience say. The first educated opinion was that I suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, that meant I was hit in the head a lot. Normally that diagnosis comes in the midst of an autopsy. I was having paralytic seizures. They had me juggle a squeeze-ball, then two and finally three. My perfect performance frustrated them. Women find relatively simple carnival tricks to be seductive. Pluck a card from a girl's bra gets you both to some dark corner, hungrily looking for the rest of the deck, I speak from experience. Next up at bat: 'I was possessed', I shit you not. Holistic medicine was right on board with the team. Was I influenced by a supernatural power? Yes I was. So claimed the majority of people on Earth. Did I receive specific instructions? Yes, and so did practitioners of Voodoo/Vodun on three continents. I added that I attempted to evade said instructions when I could. Did I have 'evil' impulses to hurt myself, or others? Huh? For starters, my matron goddess was more of a 'fucker' than a 'fighter' and her instructions were always suitably vague, the same way a Philosophy professor would give you a ten word pointless sentence on Friday and expect you to have a 250 page doctrine on Monday morning. That hit home. Too many normally smart people take a philosophy class in college hoping for an easy-A. Some teachers love dissolving those delusion, sitting back and watching your hopes and dreams of task-free weekends go down the drain. The more obscure the discipline, the more perverse the desire. That is why you always pick a teacher of the opposite gender (if in doubt, use a gay/lesbian test) and keep 'sex for grades' on the menu. Was I suffering from optical illusions, or phantom noises? Straight to the point, yes, I saw and talked with ghosts. So did the Long Island Medium, the casts of Ghost Hunters, Paranormal Witness plus George Anderson and Chip Coffey. To my credit, I didn't do it for profit, or in order to influence people. Was I seeing ghosts now? I was in hospital, so odds weren't bad. I had every non-ghost raise their left hand. No ghosts. Was my paranormal dementia pre- or post-brain trauma? Did seeing a college student being called before his class and successfully accused of plagiarism on his senior thesis, turning him into one of the Restless Dead count? No? My 'disputed' abilities were all post-college employment, thank you very much. Did the ghosts possess me/tell me to do things? I was not possessed and, discounting sexual bondage and my current work venue, had never been possessed. From my limited exposure, ghosts wanted to not be alone in the afterlife, to be guided to a final resting place with others of their kind/family/friends. None had taught me languages, asked me to steal something, or kill anyone. Had any done so, I would have denied them. Such actions were immoral and I could still freely differentiate between right and wrong. I preferred to commit wrong on my own initiative and making me do good was a chore most sane people abandoned after a few days. I took a Rorschach test. The results were predictable because I had taken old 'R' several times before. Just like every other time, I'd mixed up sexual innuendo with a psychological test to seduce the test-giver,  everything reminded me of intercourse. I changed it up with this girl. I gave her numbers. Sometime after I was long gone, they were going to figure out the ink blots were numbered after whichever erotic positions from the Kama Sutra I was reminded of at the time. I knew that wasn't being helpful and I was certain I wasn't a brain specialist. I also knew Rorschach wasn't the key to solving my woes. Final remaining hypothesis, I was utilizing 30 % of my brain capacity with three independent patterns emerging, not the usual 5 %. For that to work, my brain had to be oozing out my ears because brains generate a terrific amount of heat. My temperature was a steady 37.3 C (99 F) and my ear channels were free of obstruction. Hey man, cleaning your ears is quick and easy. Don't risk turning off a date with misfortunately located ear-hair and wax. How was my brain shedding the heat? Their solution, let's do a Spinal Tap. No way. I'd seen that band and they were all extremely fucked up, even for old guys. I wasn't going down that road. They insisted. I suggested that I consent to the procedure with the condition that I received no pain killers/sedatives of any kind and I got to grab and hold onto the testicles of my two, current, least favorite doctors. When they realized I was deadly serious and immovable on the issue, they came up with a new plan, no Spinal Tap. Gutless sissies. Into this vacuum of information, a brainstorm emerged (besides my inexplicable one). They would talk to me, no more interrogations, an actual verbal exchange. They couldn't come over and start flapping their gums like some punk rock band with no talent. They were suddenly worried about 'concerning' me and 'agitating my unstable state'. I pray to Goddess Ishara that one day soon they play back the tapes of their early hours working on me and pay close attention to my facial expressions of shock, horror, fear and depression as they clearly and openly talked about me as if I was the Fiji Mermaid. But hey, a few of them were kinda cute, so in the final analysis all that emotional trauma worked its way out. Hospital highlights: (Understand, I was lying on a table while various specialists prodded and talked about me as if I wasn't there. To strike back at reality, I throbbed my penis every time this cute Parasitologist looked at it. Finally ) Female Chief of Neurosurgery: "Did anyone think to study changes in is body's nervous system?" (Guilty looks all around) Neuro Surgeon: "What are all these needle marks?" Havenstone Medico, "Those are muscle stimuli insertion sites. They kept his musculature from atrophying while he was in a coma." Neuro Surgeon: "Let me get this straight. This man had a lightning bolt go off in his head and part of your healthcare regimen was to run a constant current of electricity throughout the rest of his body." (Scathing looks at the Medico from everyone else, jackals) HM: "He has retained excellent muscle tone." Neuro Surgeon: "Have you even taken the Hippocratic Oath?" HM: (offended) "Of course not, he's Greek." Neuro Surgeon: "What does my patient being Greek have to do with anything?" HM: "Not him (pointing at me). Hippocrates, he was a Greek. Cáel is Magyar/Irish Gaelic." Neuro Surgeon: "Helpful, that's not. He seems to have a great deal of bruises and scarring, some of it certainly received over an extensive period of time. Is this your work?" HM: (in a positive note) "No. It has not been my pleasure to spar with Cáel yet." Neuro Surgeon: "Isn't he a bit, big for you?" &

Cáel's tombstone: For the love of women, women put him here.In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand.Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected..

12 - Dom continues Linda Kerns' election coverage carried over from Dawn's show. What is this nonsense over ballot harvesting at local hospitals? Linda implores anyone out there that if they see something wrong, to call it out 1205 - Is this really the last election ever Oprah? Joe Scarborough makes very demeaning comments. 1215 - Side - all time debate you would like to see get settled 1220 - Your side question answers. 1235 - Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello joins us to paint us a picture of what's going on in the voting offices across the county today. Are we allowed to ID workers? 1240 - What is at stake in this election? Dom and Morning Joe disagree. 1250 - Does this ballot harvesting at hospitals cross the lines of the Hippocratic Oath? 1 - Kevin Kelly joins us from The Reading Terminal Market. We replay his famous audio from 2008 of a woman being denied from being a poll worker. What will he be looking for today as a poll watcher? 110 - Dave McCormick pops on the program to implore everybody to get out and vote. He also discusses how this Senate seat isn't the “Casey Seat” , it's a position you have to earn each and every day. 130 - Your side question answers. 135 - Jody Della Barba joins us from the 26th Ward. Will the area go for Trump? The turnout here has been outstanding. 140 - How was it possible that Mitt Romney got no votes in some wards in Philadelphia in 2012? Your calls. 150 - Your calls on what you're seeing around Election Day. Guy Ciarrocchi joins us from Philadelphia to give us updates on what he's seeing on the road today. What are the signs he wants to see out of Philadelphia and its suburbs? Is Pennsylvania the prize? Has Kamala given up on Nevada and Arizona? 2 - Co-chair of the RNC Lara Trump joins us. What is Lara seeing in the battleground states? Will the North Carolina residents affected by Hurricane Helene be able to vote? Despite local Hospitals giving emergency ballots to patients, Lara implores listeners not to worry and to get out and vote. How much sleep has Lara gotten recently? 215 - Money Melody! 220 - Winner? 225 - Side question calls. 235 - Rich Zeoli joins us live from Pittsburgh and the Dave McCormick rally party to talk about where they think the swing states will vote in this election. Will the silent Trump voter be more powerful than the silent Kamala voter? What is Dave McCormick doing today before his appearance in Pittsburgh? 250 - Tom DiBello hops on to tell us how the ballot counting is going thus far. Will they be counted tonight?

12 - Dom continues Linda Kerns' election coverage carried over from Dawn's show. What is this nonsense over ballot harvesting at local hospitals? Linda implores anyone out there that if they see something wrong, to call it out. 1205 - Is this really the last election ever Oprah? Joe Scarborough makes very demeaning comments. 1215 - Side - all time debate you would like to see get settled 1220 - Your side question answers. 1235 - Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello joins us to paint us a picture of what's going on in the voting offices across the county today. Are we allowed to ID workers? 1240 - What is at stake in this election? Dom and Morning Joe disagree. 1250 - Does this ballot harvesting at hospitals cross the lines of the Hippocratic Oath?

This episode was recorded on March 21, 2024. Scott and Sam discuss "Hippocratic Oath," where Dr. Julian Bashir tries to do good, and Chief Miles O'Brien doesn't. Support the show and find season 5 at: https://www.southpawpod.com/

In this thought-provoking panel discussion, three distinguished scholars delve into the complexities of ancient medicine, ethics, and the enduring influence of the Hippocratic Oath. Dr. Brooke Holmes (Princeton University), Dr. Jennifer Stager (Johns Hopkins), and Dr. Joseph Fins (Weill Cornell Medical College) engage in a fascinating discussion on the history of the body, the intersection of ancient and modern bioethics, and the evolving role of medicine in society. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week's exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Panel recorded December 19, 2023. Learn more about Dr. Holmes: https://classics.princeton.edu/people/faculty/core/brooke-holmesLearn more about Dr. Stager: https://arthist.jhu.edu/directory/jennifer-stager/ Learn more about Dr. Fins: https://weillcornell.org/jfins Read Dr. Holmes' book The Symptom and the Subject: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691138992/the-symptom-and-the-subject Read about the Deep Brain Stimulation research conducted by Dr. Fins and covered by the New York Times mentioned in the discussion: https://humanities.princeton.edu/2023/12/07/deep-brain-stimulation-research-from-council-visitor-joseph-fins-featured-in-the-new-york-times/ Find Dr. Fins' contribution in COVID-19 and the Law: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/covid19-and-the-law/B4889C072A10241C5F047DE4B913F197 Check out Dr. Stager's new book Public Feminism in Times of Crisis: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781793648105/Public-Feminism-in-Times-of-Crisis-From-Sappho%E2%80%99s-Fragments-to-Viral-Hashtags Read Dr. Stager's Seeing Color in in Classical Art book: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/seeing-color-in-classical-art/6E8F6BE6DDD7CB66A995D7825B99C7D6 Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Get exclusive bonus content (ad free episodes, early releases, and experimental content) on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the teachings of Hippocrates, known as the father of modern medicine. Learn how his groundbreaking insights from over 2,000 years ago continue to influence our understanding of health and healing today. From the Hippocratic Oath to the importance of diet and natural remedies, discover how ancient wisdom still shapes modern wellness practices. 

In this episode of "Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski," former felony prosecutor and attorney Eric Faddis discusses the ongoing criminal investigation and prosecution following the death of Matthew Perry, which has led to the arrest and charging of several individuals, including doctors and a figure known as the "Ketamine Queen." The conversation delves into the implications of the case, highlighting how the defendants allegedly conspired to supply Perry with excessive amounts of drugs, driven by profit rather than care. Faddis notes the broader societal implications of this case, suggesting that its high-profile nature could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. The discussion also touches on the dangers of ketamine therapy when not properly regulated, especially for individuals vulnerable to addiction, like Perry. Faddis emphasizes that the involvement of medical professionals in this case, coupled with their apparent disregard for Perry's well-being as revealed in their text messages, could lead to harsher penalties than those typically seen in drug-related offenses. - The investigation into Matthew Perry's death has led to the arrest of multiple individuals, including doctors. - The defendants are accused of conspiring to provide Perry with excessive drugs for profit, ignoring his vulnerability to addiction. - The case has broader societal implications, potentially setting a precedent for future drug-related prosecutions involving high-profile individuals. - The discussion highlights the dangers of ketamine therapy when not properly regulated, especially for those with a history of addiction. - The involvement of medical professionals in the conspiracy could lead to harsher penalties due to their breach of the Hippocratic Oath. #MatthewPerry #KetamineTherapy #DrugOverdose #CriminalInvestigation #EricFaddis #MedicalEthics #HippocraticOath Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com