Green, the (2011) and Morals

Over the months, I have downloaded a fair amount of films, and I finally have time to watch them all. So the first to go on the hit list is Green, the (2011). Despite an average review, I really like it, since I can relate to some of the characters in the film. Apart from the obvious GLBT theme, there is a subtle moral massage that I picked up.


*Spoiler warning*

It's about litigation and motive behind it. Sometimes, I really think that it's pretty dogs eat dogs in the cruel world, sometimes not. A character in the film saw an opportunity to sue the protagonist despite the lack of evidence, due to the exploitable nature of the protagonist. In the end, I have to say the protagonist is too naive, and even dropped the legal counter-attack, despite his reputation being ruined. For me, it would be an eye for an eye (to be exact ten eyes back, haha). By the way, the protagonist's partner is hunky, and seems to be a cook. A hunky cook - what more can one ask?

I love it when men show intimacy

When I entered vet school, I first thought money is not an issue for me. Guess what, I have become more financial-oriented after all. Greed, one of the seven deadly sins, huh? I wouldn't be surprised if I end up in hell considering this sin alone, but I don't think I believe in heaven and hell, haha. Anyway, money often does the wonder in general, even for veterinary practices. I vaguely recollect a saying of "The rich does no wrong". In the service industry, you could say no money, no service, yah? Same is for vet med, and to be exact you could say no money, a jab of lethabarb then.

Imaging a poor old but really nice lady came in with a sick dog in need of a surgical emergency intervention, for an example, GDV ie. Gastric dilation volvulus (stomach enlargement and torsion). Without a prompt and appropriate intervention, it's gonna be one hell of agonising death. Veterinarians are obliged by our Oath and law to intervene animal suffering, but we also need gain our feet in the world of business. It's a bit like what my American mates told me how people are left to dead if they don't have health insurance or money to pay for treatment. Jobs in medical field are tricky, as we are speaking about life of our patient. 

I'm quite glad that I decided to study vet rather than med. My religious belief is indeed twisted, and I  have to admit that part of me is somewhat amoral, though I adhere strongly to professional ethics (I guess my religious belief and moral stance deserves a proper post sometime later). So sometimes, it's basically "No money? Ok, let's not the patient pointlessly suffer any further. It's lethabarb time!" in my head, despite my dispassionate temperament, I say that in a much more considerate and compassionate tone to clients. Well…vet consult is a service-based business, isn't it? People are paying for a good service, so my Dexter mask is well paid after all.

A considerable number of vets are anthropologist though, in comparison to our medico counterparts according to my med friends. There is a lot of shelter medicine veterinarians out there. They are really quite something, working with abandoned animals. It isn't much cashflow in field, and the pay is depressingly minimal. However, many shelter vets are fulfilled with their job, and happy with what they got. These guys are the saints and angels of our profession, indeed. I respect their skill of making the best out of limited resources, and utilise everything that they have. 

Back on the topic of litigation, there is a well-known Australian eye specialist, who actually taught us. A while ago, he warned his GP colleague not to perform a certain eye procedure. Despite the warning, the surgical procedure was performed, and inadvertently the optic nerve was damaged, then the patient came out of the surgery blind. The owner sued the vet, and also the specialist for lack thereof due diligence, because the owner believed that it's also the specialist's fault. What a pestering call! Guess what, specialists being specialists, they are generally on the more wealthy end of the profession (not to mention he owns a well established practice). In addition to that, he loves flying a plane, so his customised comprehensive insurance is quite something. I have to say he struck back pretty hard: hiring the best available barrister in the country was easy with the insurance money. Funningly enough, his barrister was on a totally different plane of level to that of the owner's, and the barrister managed to take over the negotiation and legal proceeding. The winner was clear, and the barrister managed to talk the other party into believing that the specialist was so angelically kind that they didn't take the matter further, and sue the owner back, lol. 

Morals learnt; dogs eat dogs, but beware of getting eaten back; know thy enemy before thou strike, know not, thy head shall be rolling; insurance may save my ass. After all, we don't live in an ideal world, and nothing is free. There is a lot of funny people out there that are monetarily motivated.

Hello Freedom!

After weeks of agony, I'm now free (only until the first of January). I have a habit of shutting contact with friends during the nightmarish exam period. Well...It's nice to come back from the alternate world, and get to see them again. I decided to be a little snobbish foodie, and eat my way through this epic, so last Friday was quite epic!

The last exam was Pigs. Yes, that's the subject name seriously. Since it was the last exam, I went ballistic even before entering the Royal Execution Building - that's what uni students call it. Nice interior, but no time for appreciation though, as we are mentally fighting for our life. Somehow I finished the paper early, and I knew that I already pass, so I kept my promise to the vetties -  writing down one of my signature pork dish on the answer script book. Anyone feel like having Old-styled English pork with saute'd green apple?

Imaging 10 grown-ups dipping and playing in the water :)

Outside the exam hall, people just went nuts, me included. Some of us decided to pop some Champagne and sparkling wine right in front of the building. Sitting down chatting and drinking could not get better with a perfect sunny clear sky. Not so long later, vet kids were dipping into the water fountain - see the photo above, yes that fountain. If you saw about 10 big kids, playing with the water fountain last Friday, that's us. After a bit of shenanigans, I rushed off to meet my non-vetties friends for lunch at De Clieu. We were chatting and catching up on what is going on in life. One of the topic I remember was the current anti-Monarchy movement in Thailand. I rarely follow what is going on over there, but it is quite a hot issue at the moment, so hot that I saw a lot of comments on Facebook. The social media is one of the only few platforms, that does not get censored, and shut of by the IT ministry due to the current Draconian law. Well... I'm an anti-Monarchy myself, since I believe in equality, and that no one is above anyone else. Funnily enough saying this out loud would get me branded a traitor and my head chopped off in Thailand. So that was nice to speak about the issue freely here.

Pork neck roti to cure my hunger

After lunch, we made your way for some afternoon snack at La Belle Miette. They have one of the best macarons in Melbourne, as their macarons are not overly sweet like those found anywhere else. We walked down the CBD main street with a box of colourful snacks. It was quite lovely to sit along side Bourke Street, CBD munching macarons, and watching the street performances.

GLBT much?

Then I ditched my mates for a moment to see a film with the vetties. When we were buying tickets, we got as for a photo ID, I went "WTF lol?" as one of us was over 30yo and got a PhD. It was highly amusing that my friend had to show her ID. Anyway, I didn't have a clue what we were seeing, but I just told them to make sure it suited after-the-exam-mood. Also watching a film without any alcohol would be so wrong that day, so I sneaked in a can of 0.65L Sapporo beer. Once we were in the cinema, there were so many high school kids, perhaps that was why we got asked for ID. Apparently the film my mates picked was Inbetweeners, the. The beer was gone slightly too quick, and I was watching the film a tad high. In the end, the film was average for me, but at least it got rid off the post-exam syndrome, and made me feel like it's finally holiday.

After the film, I met up with my non-vet friends again for dinner at Marios Cafe - one of my favourites. This is the only few places that serve awesome pastas, especially pesto fettucine. I usually don't manage to finish a pasta by myself, since it feel to fat-tingly sickening. This place is an exception, and the wait staff also wear a classic black vest with tie, boxes ticked! To seal the deal, there is also trans waitress, overseeing a good drink list. Double ticks for supporting GLBT and diversity :) Anyway, I went for a hearty dish, since I was heading for clubbing that night. Medium rare Scotch fillet and a glass of red with good companions were a perfect Friday dinner. My mates and I talked about food, culture, and plans after finishing undergrad. Interestingly enough, we all wanted to stay in Australia to work for a year or so, before leaving it for good to travel the world, and study further either in UK or US. A while later, we trammed back to the CBD, and I left to meet vetties for clubbing. Well.. after a wild night, I finally got home the next day afternoon - totally knackered.

Friday just couldn't get better :)

Getting acquainted

I stumbled across this Welcome to the 2008 edition of Getting to Know Your Friends recently. Even though the edition is slightly old, but still worth giving it a go, I guess:

1. What time did you get up today? 4:27AM to be exact

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Hangover part II, the

4. What is your favorite tv show? Dexter (deja vu?), and How I met Your Mother

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Eggs and toast if time allows, otherwise Weet-Bix and soy milk

6. What is your middle name? I don't have one.

7. What food do you dislike? Not that I can think of at the moment.

8. What is your favorite cd? Don't remember the last time I bought one; how much I love uTorrent.

9. What kind of car do you drive? A grey Nissan Tiida hatchback

10. Favorite sandwich? Pork belly and green apples, oh wholegrain bread please!

11. What characteristic do you despise? Ignorance.

12. Favorite item of clothing? My brown trusty worn-out rainproof jacket.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Bhutan, Japan, England, and Switzerland

14. What color is your bathroom? I'm renting currently. It's almost black, which I really like.

15. Favorite brand of clothing? Currently Uniqlo 

16. Where would you retire to? Thinking England, California, and Thailand right now.

17. What was your most memorable birthday? 21st birthday - a relaxed and chatty long dinner with family

18. Favorite sport to watch? Rarely watch one.

19. Furthest place you are sending this? Hmmm?

20. Favorite saying? This fucking shite!

21. When is your birthday? June 8th.

22. Are you a morning or night person? Definitely a morning person, but turns nocturnal during exams.

23. What is your shoe size? 10 US

24. Pets? Does a collection of histopathology and blood sample slides from animals count?

25. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with us? Nothing exciting at the moment

26. What did you want to be when you were little? A physician

29. How are you today? Great!

30. What is your favorite candy? Very dark chocolate, thanks.

31. Your favorite flower? White roses.

32. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? New Year Day.

33. What is your full name? Gay Vet Pathologist

34. What are you listening to right now? I will just copy and past from my iTunes then - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto #2 in C minor, Op.18 - 1st Movement

35. What was the last thing you ate? Seafood risotto

36. Do you wish on stars? I think of people important to me, but don't really make any wish.

37. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue.

38. How is the weather right now? 23.5 Celcius and clear sky.

39. Favorite soft drink? Does iced coffee with vanilla ice cream count?

40. Favorite restaurant? The Basil (in Thailand) and Marios Cafe (yes, for waiters/waitresses in classic black vest)

41. Siblings? One older brother and one younger sister.

42. Favorite day of the year? I love any day in December, since it's usually uni holiday.

43. What was your favorite toy as a child? Fire, candles, and fireworks.

44. Summer or winter? Definitely summer!

45. Hugs or kisses? Both - hugs followed by kisses, thanks.

46. Coffee or tea? Long macchiato!

47. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla

48. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? I'm not sending out to my friends.

49. When was the last time you cried? April this year.

50. What is under your bed? Lab coat, stethoscope, lub, and socks.

51. Who are the friends you have had the longest? A bunch of high school friends.

52. What did you do last night? Crammed for my exam

53. Favorite smell? Freshly ground coffee beans.

54. What are you afraid of? Cockroaches.

55. Salty or sweet? Salty

56. How many keys on your ring? 4

57. How many years at your current job? 4 years as a college student

58. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

59. How many towns have you lived in? 5

60. Do you make friends easily? Usually, yeah


I hope you all know me better now :)

Cold hard truth

All I am thinking lately has been about exams, so I should not be bragging about it except the fact that I am half way there. E (my lab partner) and I decided to go out for some munchies, after having sat an exam. We trotted around the city of Melbourne indecisively, before leisurely settled down at Journal Canteen (one of the places I used to study for exams). Our topics of conservation again revolved around life and other deep-thought issues. At one point, we talked about the nature of the truth.

One of the pathologists (we both respect) apparently made her neighbour cry, after telling the truth about the fate of the little bird her neighbour brought in. As many of us have progressed through veterinary studies, we have touched on the topic of wildlife, and learnt that a small baby bird abandoned by its parents generally doesn't stand much chance in this cruel wild world. The poor subject often either starves to death once it is abandoned, or gets picked up by kind-hearted people, then gets dropped off at a vet clinic/animal shelter. 

Truth calling?

Well...what happens behind the clinic door/shelter is then unknownst to the general public. The bird is often given a highly-overdosed shot of sodium pentobarbital either by intravenous (into a vein) or intraperitoneal (into the abdomen), for the purpose of euthanasia on humane ground. For many in the veterinary profession, the action is adequately and reasonably justified, as the bird is very likely to die, unless it is close the fledgling stage, or able to fend for itself. This would prevent pointless suffering. Another aspect is that if the animal is non-native, which means it may post threats to the local species, it is by law that the animal must be destroyed.

So the poor neighbour was given the synopsis, and she did not take it well. It might have been courteous to withdraw the truth, and only provide part of it. But upon retrospection, I would certainly have trouble putting an acting mask on for the purpose of deception, so I could understand why the pathologist decided to do as such.

E and I agreed that that the truth should be provided if possible, and only if the recipient seems capable of taking it. However, this is because we have become dispassionate while dealing with issues like this. I have heard of parents telling their kid that the family dog is going to a farm, and will never come back. Then the kid goes heartbroken, and asks if the dog will miss him/her.

Certainly, there is a moral dilemma. Is it worth to tell the truth to people, even though it may hurt them even more?

Too much fun with Squash?

I decided to play squash and get some sweat the other day, after a long day of studies. It seemed that I was too intense, and somehow I accidentally smacked my knee. Exercise is always good, but playing for 2 hours alone and smashing the knee weren't ideal. I woke up this morning to feel the thigh muscle twitching. Physiology kicked in my head - cytokines, immunomediator etc. leading to nerve stimulation (?). Funningly enough, I just finished studying equine lameness, but what I learnt was not helpful for treating myself. 

Any medico out there know what's happening here?

Nice Saturday

Ahh... how much I hate getting stuck to a desk! Saturday was a perfect excuse to make a little outdoor escape, so I decided to take my bike for a long spin from Sanctuary Lake to Williamstown, part of the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail. The smell of sea salt, sunshine, some nice eyecandies on the beaches, Westlife playlist on my iPod, and not to forget a big hearty breakfast.

Perfect weather with Melbourne city on the horizontal.

The last time I cycled this route, I got a really bad cramp and could barely cycled back home. This time was a different story, and the one way cycling route was completed in 2 hours. After strolling around with my coffee snob antennae, I decided to settle down at Ticktok Cafe. Their menu, baked good and decor ticked the boxes. A long macchiatto was served, and sadly it was a tad too hot and diluted, nevertheless their big breakfast was outstanding. Coffee is not their forte yet, perhaps. Sitting outside, synthesising vitamin D, letting the stomach do the job, and reading news was just simply peaceful. Cycling really gave me time to think through and sort things out in my head. After another 3 hours, I got back to my studies BAR (Term used to describe patient's condition - bright, alert, and responsive).

This is why I love weekend so much. Only if we only have 4 weekdays instead?

My Christmas and New Year 2011

A tad of procrastination wouldn't hurt, since my brain is totally fried up, and needs some time to cool down. After having made a list of what to do in December, I realised that I would have a really busy month. At first, I thought I would have a quiet relaxed December for once, but this was proven wrong, as there are so many things lined up for me to do. These include a meeting with the Dean and teaching staff for academic issues (not mine, but the whole year level in general: I will need to prepare some docs, and deal with some politics - I had dealt a lot with, but not my cup of tea), getting a flight to Japan and meet my family there for a trip, moving house (to inner Melbourne suburb) , taking a temporary post as an assistant veterinary anatomical pathologist between Christmas and New Year (This seems extremely workaholic, but I don't see doing pathology stuff as work, because I enjoy it :D), organising a placement at DPI Attwood, staying outdoor and do some surfing for a week, getting some massage, having a quiet day to retrospect and reflect on oneself etc.

Obviously, I won't have much time to chill out, and this makes me realise that this year I have gradually shifted from my introvert Type B ego to Type A personality slightly. So I really need to learn to prioritise things properly: all vetties seem to have an imbalance study and social life. My personal life has been compromised, since entering the vet school, but I have been getting better than doing the balancing act.

OMG! Are they all for me?

Some of my Canuck mates are staying over the summer, since our uni will be starting on Monday 2nd January 2012. Lovely, isn't it? We have decided to patronise one of our favourite contemporary pub-restaurants, which is along Yarra River for the New Year Eve.  This will be a perfect cooling spot for the Australian summer, as we all will feel like constantly being in an medium-heat oven. There are bound to be lots of vetties pranks and inappropriate shenanigans, though I won't be overly drunk but will stay high throughout the night for sure.

Since I will be most likely be spending Christmas Day at uni, doing some yucky work and the faculty can get really quiet, I downloaded the new Michael Buble Christmas Album 2011. I will be singing his songs, while making a Christmas pudding for the first time, then singing and sharing the pudding with pathologists on duty, before heading to the PM room, butchering ex-animals to bits and pieces.

So what is your plan this December? And anyone have advice on balancing life?

Homosexual rams

Today is Melbourne Cup Day, and it is a public holiday for Melbournians to gamble - to be exact it was yesterday by the time I finish this post. Even though  I'm stuck in the vet library, I had a gambling draw with the vetties. My horse was Modun, and she/he seemed to do ok, since I got $5 from the draw somehow :)

With 6 exams lining up, for me to study (cram) through. Unfortunately, that won't leave much time for me to blog. I have decided to settle down in one of the private cubes in the vet libraly, as my second home for now until the end of this month. The cubes are very old, and look pretty much like a prison cell. What a perfect place to confine myself! Many of my mates now know that I have entered the alternative world, and won't be in contact for a while (also the phone reception in my cube is pretty poor).

Brucella ovis is trasmitted between rams by anal sex, lol

There are severeal subjects that I need to go through. One of them being Small ruminants, in which I have to study about reproductive diseases in rams. In one lecture, we were told how groups of rams have their boy parties in a paddock, and engage in homosexual behaviours. Who say gay is un-natural, huh? I vaguely recall someone saying "In order to reduce the degree of orgies in rams, they are separated into smaller group, usually 3 to 4 per group. Then we can just let them go wild within their group, without having to worry about the disease spreading everywhere".

So I will now disappear into another dimension for a little while. Until then, take care.

Added 02/11/11
I just found out today that Modun actually came last, so I got a price for being the slowest horse in the race, lol. Not sure if I can say it's lucky/unlucky.