Odysseys of George

Another email sent to me:

“A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest chemical element yet known to science. The new element has been tentatively named Governmentium.

“Governmentium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 11 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

“These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert.

“However, it can be detected as it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take four days to complete when it would normally take less than a second. Some scientists speculate that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as Critical Morass.

“When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium – an element which radiates just as much energy since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.”

Enjoy!

I suddenly lost passion to write. I was too depressed, I suppose. Maybe, just too busy! Actually maybe I know why, but just haven’t come to terms about it!

It started end of last week actually when I had an elderly lady presenting with intestinal obstruction.

Upon doing a gentle colonoscopy, she was found to have an obstructive lesion in the right colon. The anaesthetist, though being a good friend was extremely reluctant to call the case. After much of argumentative discussion, she gave in and yet even throughout the surgery she insisted that this is not an emergency. This was our third right sided colonic cancer in an elderly within a short period of 2 weeks.

A few days later, I saw this nice gentleman, in his 40′s, looking wasted and breathless! His misery started 9 months ago, when he was labelled as to have tuberculosis(TB).

Despite all investigations being negative for TB, he continued to be treated as one. He was started on the medications and never showed any improvements. He then started to complain of fresh blood with his stools he passes out. It fell on deaf ears and they assumed it was TB. Months pass by, his queries were brushed off until a month ago, someone decided to listen. He was then referred to us for a colonoscopy and a CT scan.

He had cancer of his upper rectum and it has disseminated throughout his body. He was too breathless to even walk a few steps. He was unfit for any procedure even for any chemotheraphy. Today, he took a down turn and was appearing lethargic. He was developing muscle fatigue. He was getting weak. I called his wife and children. I spoke to them and adviced them. They managed to take him home.

Just a few beds away from his is a Chinese gentleman, who recognised me the instant I appeared in front of him. I was his doctor when he was operated by my bosses back in University Hospital,UMMC. He had recurrence of his stomach cancer and was also breathless. His chest wall was infiltrated with cancer cells that made his chest expansion restricted. He too was getting tired of breathing but wanted to go home the next day. However, towards the evening, his saturation dipped and he was dry and extremely tired. He wanted to go home. Again, I assisted him to feel as comfortable as he could be and he afforded me a smile and a handshake. He wanted to die at home. We rushed the private ambulance and got them to rent an oxygen tank for home use. Just as they arrived, he slumped unconscious on his chair. He was gasping. As I felt for his pulse, I saw him blow his last breath.

Then, in between all this, there was another emotional case where a young Indian girl, 21 years old, who was diagnosed to have fibroadenoma after an ultrasound and biopsy, underwent an excision of the mass. The final pathology report revealed a focus of cancer. The mother was devastated as, this young daughter of hers was just about to start work and was still unmarried. She said, ” Even if I accept this diagnosis, and even if I accept the treatment protocol, this is actually just the beginning of all her problems.” 21 years old with breast cancer and requiring a mastectomy and an axillary clearance. Her mother is correct, this is just the begining for her. She would definitely require a support group.

Being a diver, I was looking at something more natural, architectural designs shaped by currents and tides. Natural architecture to home many small creatures of the sea.

This was taken during a dive in one of Malaysia’s famous dive islands, Redang Island. It is also one of my personal favourite dive spot.

After a long hiatus, for those not that well to do, the coming of March means it is diving time again. This would go on until about end of September, ocasionally October before coming to a close. For those who can afford, they would travel far to dive, like to Bali, Raja Empat, Papua new Guinea, Phillipines, Sulawesi, Manado and Christmas Islands.

For those who cannot afford, then some will travel to Thailand and the hardcore but cannot afford, will end up diving in Pulau Payar and maybe worse, Port Dickson.

Classes and trips and being organised. For those interested in joining can easily enquire any divers for assisstance and advice. The going rate for a Basic Course is about RM1000 to RM1500. There are 3 dive licensing agency that I know of, PADI, NAUI and SSI. Most dive shops and dive agencies are affliated to any of these but majority are with PADI.

Because of the possible risk involved, this sport requires one to attain license before diving. This would mean that there are classes, evaluations and exams. The basic most license is called the Open Water Diver(OWD) license. You can then progress to Advance OWD license which allows one to go deeper. If your interest persist and financially permits, then one can continue to take up Rescue Diver. Thereafter onwards, one can become a Master Scuba Diver or become a Divemaster to progress further to become instructor or finally a Course Director.

There many speciality courses that one can take up alongside and among them are, AWARE fish ID, underwater photographer, underwater videography, Cavern diver, Deep diver, Night Diver and many others like Enriched Air Diver.

Even children can take up diving but the long term effects of diving on children has not been well studied. They have introductory classes for them such as for above 8 years old, they can take up Junior license.

As a minimum, you want your own mask, fins and snorkel when you start diving in the Open Water Diver course. Once certified and you start to enjoy the sport, then start investing into the other stuff such as the Bouyancy Control Device(BCD), regulators, exposure suits and dive computers. This allows you to dive safely and comfortably and is cheaper in the long run rather than renting all the time you dive. When buying remember, “There is no best gear. But, there is the best gear for you.”

Then for those interested, last year they had this in Singapore and this year in Thailand. It is the Asia Dive Expo 2007 starting on the 27th to the 29th April 2007 at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre

While attending the annual dinner for the 5th.Colorectal Weekend Conference, the topic of the food varieties came up for discussion.

My professional colleague started by saying that the Chinese has voracious appetite for the strangest things. It seems there is a famous saying among the Chinese that says that “anything that has their “back” facing the sun, is edible” This basically means that any four legged animal or being can be eaten.

From the other end of the round table, my non-Chinese medical officer blurted out a Chinese delicacy – suckling pig

It takes 2 days to prepare this dish and “because protein firms as it cooks, the pig will stay in whatever position you place it. It should resemble a dog resting on its haunches.”

Next on topic was Peking Duck, a famous duck dish from northeastern China and also known as Beijing Duck or Beijing Roast Duck.Traditionally served with Mandarin pancakes, and green onions for brushing on the hoisin sauce. Well, what is so weird is that, it is inflated with a pump or other object, separating the skin from the body (in ancient times someone with strong lungs would achieve this by blowing through a straw). Then the skin is scalded with boiling water to make it drier and tauter and brushed with molasses so that it acquires a dark, rich color with the slight aroma of caramel during the subsequent cooking process. After drying for half a day, the duck is hung by its neck in a hot oven where it is roasted for an hour or more, during which time the copious fat of the duck melts off and the skin becomes crispy.

Then the topic got even more interesting with various meals being blurted out. All this made eating frogs and snake very mild as this professional colleague of mine continued to surprise me as to what and where his taste buds have travelled.

Bear’s gallbladder is another famous delicacies among the Orientals. “China, North Korea and South Korea are now farming bears for their bile in order to meet the needs of its traditional medicine industry. The bears on the farms are milked for their bile by placing a surgically implanted catheter into their gallbladders. As many as 8,000 bears live on these farms in China alone. Although the milking process is not painful to the bears it is stressful due to the fact that the bears spend their entire lives in small cramped cages. Chinese scientists are now spending time and money on researching how to increase productivity on these bear farms and have forgotten the needs of wild bears. The demand for gallbladders from wild bears is still strong as some people believe the farmed bile to be inferior to that found in nature.”


Bear paw is a delicacy on menus in China. Some Imperial Chinese cookbooks include recipes for stewed bear’s paw and bear spare-rib casserole. Bear meat is sometimes eaten and it is believed to prevent colds, strengthen the body, provide relief from rheumatism and beri-beri. Paws, like the meat, are also considered to have medicinal properties.

Then it went to brains, monkey and much later cow’s brain.

The list continued to people from various countries and their delicacies. One of them at the table confessed to eating dog meat and claims it taste like lamb. This is a delicacy of the Indo-Chinese.

So, tell me what was the most exotic that you have eaten? Care to share?

This was sent to my email! Funny so decided to share it!

Must be an extremely smelly foot!!!