Nobrainer’s Think Tank

Fortunately, the holiday attack was merely a glancing blow. Compared to the freight train waiting to hit me later, today’s strike was more similar to a spit ball.

I was fairly productive today. I made great headway with my research.

Of course 5 o’clock signaled a time to head home for dinner. The plan was to work more after dinner. That’s when procrastination arrived, admittedly later than usual.

While avoiding any additional school work, I realized that it was time to put up Christmas lights. I strung two strands throughout the rafters in my ceiling. They look pretty good… except for the half strand that doesn’t work. (Yes, I checked them before I hung them).

So that sums up my momentary festivity. The statistics guarantee my holiday season will get worse. Presents will be bought (after I can figure out what the hell to buy). My bank accounts will drain. The weather will get colder and crappier, while there is less and less daylight. And let’s not forget how much fun it is to travel.

It’s all downhill from here folks: today a spit ball, next week a two by four… after that some jackass’s Suburban and finally the freight train.

Happy Holidays indeed.

Can you imagine that? People demand life-saving medications that cost hundreds of millions to develop. People expect these meds to be cheap. Does that make sense in a free market economy? It doesn’t to me. And I found this refreshing article from the National Review. The whole article is worth a read, but the last two paragraphs sum it up.

…This is why new drugs cost what they do, and why price-controlled Canadian drugs, industry-led product discounts, and Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D., Calif.) comment that “frankly, it doesn’t make sense to me” that innovation and high prices are connected, all will make it harder for this lab and its counterparts to cover their costs. These factors boost the odds that the lights in these miracle factories will flicker, then fade to black.

The vaccine against this ailment is for pharmaceutical companies to teach Americans — starting with Washington’s bipartisan political class — a simple but vital truth: Those little pills do not invent themselves.

I just thought you med school kids could really appreciate this.

-nobrainer

Check me out:

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

This may well be the first time I’ve thought of Kennedy in a positive way. It’s a shame my dad wasn’t cunning enough to make vast, ill-gotten fortunes. Oh, and note to self: “don’t ride through Texas in a convertible.”

This link came courtesy of Digger’s Realm via Jeremy at the MUSC Tiger.

It has recently come to my attention that some major search engines are directing some traffic my way.

For example, if you are concerned about Mary-Kate Olsen and her battles with eating disorders, you can get help on yahoo!. Of course, for that to lead to me, you have to misspell Olsen and anorexia. (Hey, I never promised to spell check my work). Although I have gone back and corrected my mistakes.

Google has taken a liking to me, also. Type in nobrainer and the first result returned is this very blog.

I guess I am one of the lucky folks in the world who can be found by nickname on the internet with google.

So the last 5 days in my life have been, at best, fucked up. These were not five normal days in my life. But most of that is not going to be published.

After another night out, I roll in this morning to see more ridiculous news from the AP via Fox News about the search for Bin Laden:

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Pakistan army says it’s withdrawing troops from the area where Usama bin Laden (search) and a top aide are believed to be hiding.

The withdrawals from the region near the Afghanistan border follow intense military operations by thousands of troops against remnants of bin Laden’s Al Qaeda (search) organization and its allies.

The top Pakistan general in the region says the army is removing checkpoints in return for local tribesmen’s support against foreign militants. He adds that some Pakistani soldiers will remain nearby.

Although the tribal region is considered a possible hiding place for bin Laden and his deputy, a senior Pakistan general has said there’s been no sign of them.

But earlier this month, the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command said it was “essential” that Pakistan continue military operations in the area.

There exists no doubt in my mind that there is much more to this story. Let’s continue to hope that we catch that idiot sooner than later.

-nobrainer

Since the Thanksgiving holiday is nearly here, and many of us will have some free time, I’d like to recommend some entertainment.

First, go read the Tucker Max Stories. Actually, there’s a lot of material there, so you’ll need a lot of free time to read them all. Every one of them is hilarious. Some of them make me laugh so hard I convulse. (warning, not for those with a weak constitution.)

For a quick laugh, learn about wine, or to be more accurate, bum wines. I’m left wondering why we never took the step down from Boone’s to have parties based on some of these concoctions. It might cause you to have serious questions about why Jesus was turning water into wine.

And for your personal enjoyment, this year’s girls of the ACC.