An article in the Malay mail really interest me today (apart from NASCOM's Rm1.8billion suit of course!) and it's a warning from Prof Hugh McGavock of Ulster University that all forms of antibiotics will be useless in 12 years due to 'gross over-prescribing' by doctors.
Well... this is old news to many of us. We have seen many many resistance problems in hospitals and finding appropriate antibiotics that actually work can sometimes be a gamble. Why is this happening when the pharmaceutical companies keep coming up with newer and supposedly better antibiotics? Surely we'll have more of the newer antibiotics to play with in 12 years' time?
Here's the fact: unless we seriously change our antibiotics usage, the resistance problem is here to stay and will cause more chaos.
Here's another fact: Antibiotic DOES NOT cure your common cold!
I cringed everytime I overheard somebody asking for antibiotics when you can be absolutely what they had are caused by viral infections or some sort of allergy (think hayfever). Of course there are instances when you can get secondary bacterial infections with viral infections but that is for a doctor to decide, not retail pharmacists who don't even bother to ask for medical histories! And who actually make it legal to sell antibiotics over-the-counter in Malaysia anyway??
Now, I'm not trying to dish out my fellow professionals but if us (pharmacists) do not take up the responsibilities to educate the public, who will?
Oh, and other professionals should play they roles too. I remember having a go at a nurse (bless her!) when I went to visit my sister at a hospital recently. My sister was actually admitted with viral fever so when I saw the nurse serving antibiotics I asked her why. She said she's not sure why but "must be for the viral infection". Wrong answer woman! She got a free lecture from me that night....
I mean, if those in the healthcare professions don't even know that antibiotic is for bacterial infection and NOT viral...how are we going to educate the rest?
And as the article stated, some doctors are at fault too. I mean, how can you give somebody a course of antibiotic without even examining the patient or taking history especially when the patient only asked for some anti-histamines for stuffy nose? This is a true story and happened at a trendy (read expensive) clinic in KLCC. I am however been blessed that my new-found GP here is pretty responsible. I was not offered antibiotics on a few occasions that I went to see her, even when I presented her with a really bad cold. Emmm...I think I shall remain loyal to her for a long long time since she keeps her antibiotics away from me but still very kindly gives me MCs....
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Car oh car...
I had to take leave to sort out my car today. Naively thinking that the car only needed balancing and alignment, I had to spend RM135 instead of my RM40 budget. And that was only for half of the problems that the mechanics found!
Firstly, they said that two of my tyres 'bengkak' and need replacing. How did they found that out? The tyres looked just fine and the same to me. Since the tyre costs RM195 each, I politely refused for replacements...5 minutes later, they said two of the tyres need their cambers replacing. Since one of the lads took his time to explain to me what a camber is and its functions, I agreed for the replacement (although I still haven't got a single clue what he meant!). After almost 2 hours and 2 rounds of test drives with him, I thought the car was ready. But then the lad came back saying that my steering cap (if i heard him correctly) also need replacing. I ran out of patience by that time and just refused blankly without even asking for the price of the cap. I just wanted my car back and go home!
The car does feel better to drive now... And thinking of it, I might consider changing the two tyres and the steering cap afterall. But do I really need the replacements? I supposed I ought to get second opinion first. My knowledge of cars is near to nil... I only know how to drive it, feed it with petrol and water and....errr...that's it. I don't even know how to change tyres! Oh boy...I think I should learn more about my car now before I get conned by the mechanics! (or have I already been conned?) Emmm....
Firstly, they said that two of my tyres 'bengkak' and need replacing. How did they found that out? The tyres looked just fine and the same to me. Since the tyre costs RM195 each, I politely refused for replacements...5 minutes later, they said two of the tyres need their cambers replacing. Since one of the lads took his time to explain to me what a camber is and its functions, I agreed for the replacement (although I still haven't got a single clue what he meant!). After almost 2 hours and 2 rounds of test drives with him, I thought the car was ready. But then the lad came back saying that my steering cap (if i heard him correctly) also need replacing. I ran out of patience by that time and just refused blankly without even asking for the price of the cap. I just wanted my car back and go home!
The car does feel better to drive now... And thinking of it, I might consider changing the two tyres and the steering cap afterall. But do I really need the replacements? I supposed I ought to get second opinion first. My knowledge of cars is near to nil... I only know how to drive it, feed it with petrol and water and....errr...that's it. I don't even know how to change tyres! Oh boy...I think I should learn more about my car now before I get conned by the mechanics! (or have I already been conned?) Emmm....
Monday blues
I was finally interviewed yesterday after working for almost 5 months. It went quite well although it was the shortest interview I've ever been to (only lasted for 15mins!). My big boss said that all attended did well so there's no danger of me becoming unemployed yet. But I do wonder what if the panel decided that they don't like any of us....do we get the boot then? Can they do that when the delayed interviews were their own doings?
Anyway, still no news from the ASTRO guys yet.. meaning that they haven't found any available basketball court yet. Since nowhere to go to after the usual badminton session yesterday, I joined the lot for dinner at KFC....so much for healthy living!
Anyway, still no news from the ASTRO guys yet.. meaning that they haven't found any available basketball court yet. Since nowhere to go to after the usual badminton session yesterday, I joined the lot for dinner at KFC....so much for healthy living!
Thursday, September 25, 2003
'Quarter-life crisis'
I received this from a friend yesterday...and my, nothing can explain it better than this! I don't know whether Yk. Ram is its original writer or not but am just including his/her name in to avoid being accused of plagiarism. Do take time to read it to understand 'us' more!
They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis."
It is when you stop going along with the crowd
and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself
that you didn't know and may not like.
You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two,
but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe,
those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly
the greatest people you have ever met
and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most
important ones.
What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too
and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere,
but that they are as confused as you.
You look at your job.
It is not even close to what you thought you would be
doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing
that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.
You miss the comforts of college, of groups,
of socializing with the same people on a constant basis.
But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.
You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want.
Your opinions have gotten stronger.
You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more
than usual because suddenly you realize that you
have certain boundaries in your life and add things to
your list of what is acceptable and what is not.
You are insecure and then secure.
You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life.
You feel alone and scared and confused.
Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on
to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting
further and further away and there is nothing to do
but stay where you are or move forward.
You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you
loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed
and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe you can love someone else too
and cannot figure out why you are doing this
because you are not a bad person.
One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap
and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.
You go through the same emotions and questions over and over
and talk with your friends about the same topics
because you cannot seem to make a decision.
You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while winning the race would be great,
right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it.
We are in our best of times and our worst of times,
trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.
Send this to your twenty-something friends...maybe it
will help someone feel like they are not alone in the state of confusion
that are our postgrad years!!!
Thank You
Yk. Ram
Rampc System (M) Sdn. Bhd
They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis."
It is when you stop going along with the crowd
and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself
that you didn't know and may not like.
You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two,
but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe,
those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly
the greatest people you have ever met
and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most
important ones.
What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too
and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere,
but that they are as confused as you.
You look at your job.
It is not even close to what you thought you would be
doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing
that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.
You miss the comforts of college, of groups,
of socializing with the same people on a constant basis.
But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.
You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want.
Your opinions have gotten stronger.
You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more
than usual because suddenly you realize that you
have certain boundaries in your life and add things to
your list of what is acceptable and what is not.
You are insecure and then secure.
You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life.
You feel alone and scared and confused.
Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on
to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting
further and further away and there is nothing to do
but stay where you are or move forward.
You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you
loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed
and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe you can love someone else too
and cannot figure out why you are doing this
because you are not a bad person.
One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap
and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.
You go through the same emotions and questions over and over
and talk with your friends about the same topics
because you cannot seem to make a decision.
You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while winning the race would be great,
right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it.
We are in our best of times and our worst of times,
trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.
Send this to your twenty-something friends...maybe it
will help someone feel like they are not alone in the state of confusion
that are our postgrad years!!!
Thank You
Yk. Ram
Rampc System (M) Sdn. Bhd
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Farewell to MSN
I was back to my 'super-active' mode yesterday. I played badminton with my colleagues after work then to MSN for a basketball session with the ASTRO lot. But a sad (or annoying?) thing happened...It turned out to be our last session for the year (up till SEA games to be precise) because the court has now been occupied by the national fencing team. We had to beg the security last night to let us play half-court since most of us had turned up anyway. Why do they have to use a basketball court for fencing practice is everyone's guess! Man...I REALLY hope they're going to win something at the games!
Unless Fauzi, TJ or Jamal manage to find a new ground for us, there'll be no more basketball during the weekdays. And it's not easy to find available basketball courts nowadays. Also, the fact that I'm normally fully occupied most Saturdays means that I will hardly get the chance to play anymore. That sucks!
Why it is so difficult to find easy-access sport facilities nowadays? If they can build hundreds (or is it thousands?) of golf courses around the country, why can't they build more desperately-needed sport centres? Or just enough sport facilities in the community? Why can't they make it compulsory for developers to include e.g. multi-purpose courts and proper playing field when approving new developments? The average Malaysians (I believe) can't afford those expensive golf clubs or the new trendy gyms anyway, so public sport centres will be much appreciated.
When I was small, there were plenty of spaces where I could safely fly kites, play rounders or football (mind you, i was quite a tomboy back then) with my neighbourhood friends. Nowadays, people don't even know their neighbours! Why? I put it down to not enough meeting-up places i.e. playing fields. It doesn't need a genius to figure that out does it?
Unless Fauzi, TJ or Jamal manage to find a new ground for us, there'll be no more basketball during the weekdays. And it's not easy to find available basketball courts nowadays. Also, the fact that I'm normally fully occupied most Saturdays means that I will hardly get the chance to play anymore. That sucks!
Why it is so difficult to find easy-access sport facilities nowadays? If they can build hundreds (or is it thousands?) of golf courses around the country, why can't they build more desperately-needed sport centres? Or just enough sport facilities in the community? Why can't they make it compulsory for developers to include e.g. multi-purpose courts and proper playing field when approving new developments? The average Malaysians (I believe) can't afford those expensive golf clubs or the new trendy gyms anyway, so public sport centres will be much appreciated.
When I was small, there were plenty of spaces where I could safely fly kites, play rounders or football (mind you, i was quite a tomboy back then) with my neighbourhood friends. Nowadays, people don't even know their neighbours! Why? I put it down to not enough meeting-up places i.e. playing fields. It doesn't need a genius to figure that out does it?
Sunday, September 21, 2003
Millie Cookies...yummy!
Thanks to a stewardess-friend of mine (you know who you are!), I got to eat my favourite Millie's cookies last night! For those who don't know, they are just normal american cookies but for some reason, I really got hooked to them in my last year in the UK. There were times when I went to Meadowhall just to get some of these cookies!
And having a friend sending a box full of it to your door at 11.30pm made the cookies taste more delicious. And my favourite? The white chocolate flavour of course...yum..yum...
And having a friend sending a box full of it to your door at 11.30pm made the cookies taste more delicious. And my favourite? The white chocolate flavour of course...yum..yum...
Thanks a zillion
I know this is a lil' bit late but since I'm in the mood of blogging now, I might as well say this...
Thanks to all srikandi 893 who took the trouble to come all the way to the reunion dinner. It was held at KDE on the 23rd last month. I hope everybody enjoyed yourselves...I know that I did! Thanks to Alin and Har for being the MCs of the night, to Liza for her patience in being the 'ceti' and to Eiderq for staying up late the night before to help me preparing the photo slides. Also special thanks to Loi, Cher, Ayu, Nizeq, Nonong and suzie for helping out to make the reunion a reality. Oh... last but not least, for those who stayed till the end and sang the school song! Surreal...
p/s since I haven't figured out how to include photos in this blog, you just have to go to the yahoogroup to see the photos (if you're a group member, that is!)...sorry !
Thanks to all srikandi 893 who took the trouble to come all the way to the reunion dinner. It was held at KDE on the 23rd last month. I hope everybody enjoyed yourselves...I know that I did! Thanks to Alin and Har for being the MCs of the night, to Liza for her patience in being the 'ceti' and to Eiderq for staying up late the night before to help me preparing the photo slides. Also special thanks to Loi, Cher, Ayu, Nizeq, Nonong and suzie for helping out to make the reunion a reality. Oh... last but not least, for those who stayed till the end and sang the school song! Surreal...
p/s since I haven't figured out how to include photos in this blog, you just have to go to the yahoogroup to see the photos (if you're a group member, that is!)...sorry !
may god bless her
As some of you might already know, I've lost my beloved grandma less than a month ago. She passed away on the 29th of August 2003, at about 1.40am.
I have so many fond memories of her which I shall remember as long as I live. She is one special grandma. Who else is fortunate enough to have her grandma waiting to pick her up from school in a volvo and puffed her dunhill away while waiting for the end-of-day bell to ring? And this was in the early 80s, when not many older women can actually drive. Now, I don't favour smoking but to have a 'liberal' grandma like mine is totally different all together!
One thing that I inheritate from her is that I'm a leftie. Nobody else in the family is. Another not-so-obvious skill that i got from her is I'm pretty good at growing stuff. She has taught me alot in that section but sadly, not many that I can still remember now. But I can remember at 10, I managed to grow ubi kayu (enough to feed us and some of our neighbours),kangkung (for our fish) and sawi (for ayah's geese). It was of course down to nenek's encouragement and tips...
May god bless her...al-fatihah.
I have so many fond memories of her which I shall remember as long as I live. She is one special grandma. Who else is fortunate enough to have her grandma waiting to pick her up from school in a volvo and puffed her dunhill away while waiting for the end-of-day bell to ring? And this was in the early 80s, when not many older women can actually drive. Now, I don't favour smoking but to have a 'liberal' grandma like mine is totally different all together!
One thing that I inheritate from her is that I'm a leftie. Nobody else in the family is. Another not-so-obvious skill that i got from her is I'm pretty good at growing stuff. She has taught me alot in that section but sadly, not many that I can still remember now. But I can remember at 10, I managed to grow ubi kayu (enough to feed us and some of our neighbours),kangkung (for our fish) and sawi (for ayah's geese). It was of course down to nenek's encouragement and tips...
May god bless her...al-fatihah.
basketball rules!
I haven't written anything in this blog for a long long time. But today, i just feel the urge to share with you something.
I finally got the chance to enjoy basketball again yesterday after weeks of work, courses and family events. It was great to see the familiar faces again and to make some more new friends. Some friends do asked me why I still play basketball when I can afford to play more 'trendy' sports like tennis, golf (erk!) or going to the gym.
To be honest...I hate golf and gym. Why would people want to spend hours in the sun walking all around the course carrying heavy clubs. As for the gym... it's boring! Sports are meant to be fun. That's why team sports are the best. You get to meet people and stay healthy at the same time. Having said that, I know certain girls who joined gyms just to meet guys. Otherwise, why else do they put on make-ups to go to gyms???
Anyway, check out the people i met or get to know on the basketball court in UM...
a) a dr who just came back from Ireland, who happened to be an ex-housemate of my long-lost friend (who used to be pretty good at basketball too!)
b) the lively jason who's my cousin's ex-schoolmate and good buddy (and my cousin was a state basketball player!)
c) two of my seniors who set history for our school by winning the PPM basketball final which has yet to be challenged.
d) the energetic moha who did his bar with my ex-housemate arul in london
Small world eh?
I finally got the chance to enjoy basketball again yesterday after weeks of work, courses and family events. It was great to see the familiar faces again and to make some more new friends. Some friends do asked me why I still play basketball when I can afford to play more 'trendy' sports like tennis, golf (erk!) or going to the gym.
To be honest...I hate golf and gym. Why would people want to spend hours in the sun walking all around the course carrying heavy clubs. As for the gym... it's boring! Sports are meant to be fun. That's why team sports are the best. You get to meet people and stay healthy at the same time. Having said that, I know certain girls who joined gyms just to meet guys. Otherwise, why else do they put on make-ups to go to gyms???
Anyway, check out the people i met or get to know on the basketball court in UM...
a) a dr who just came back from Ireland, who happened to be an ex-housemate of my long-lost friend (who used to be pretty good at basketball too!)
b) the lively jason who's my cousin's ex-schoolmate and good buddy (and my cousin was a state basketball player!)
c) two of my seniors who set history for our school by winning the PPM basketball final which has yet to be challenged.
d) the energetic moha who did his bar with my ex-housemate arul in london
Small world eh?
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