Bad news for many students about to graduate this year. It has just been announced that there is a new test that they will have to take in order to be able and graduate. Now, several thousand of Minnesota seniors might not graduate this spring because a vast majority hasn’t passed at least one new state test required for graduation. The Minnesota Department of Education released figures yesterday showing that about 1,800 students have yet to pass the required writing test, and about 5,000 seniors have yet to pass the reading test. Both tests are required for the first time this year. Read the whole story here.
Posted in Education
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Tagged school, tests
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I have been looking for an affordable car for a few months now. Not only I want an affordable car but one that looks nice…not an ugly car that would fall apart. I found a list of attractive, efficient and cheap cars. They characterize for being practical and accessible to almost every pocket. Due to the economic status and the high costs of gas, compact cars have turned to be the most popular gadget. According to the list, this are some examples of economic cars whose prices are below the $18,000.
Top 10 economic cars in 2010:
1. Hyundai Brio- $13,595
2. Smart – $14,900
3. Toyota Yaris (Hatchback) – $15,495
4. Suzuki SX4 – $15,995
5. Mitsubishi Lancer – $15,995
6. Ford Focus – $16,495
7. Kia Soul – $16,995
8. Honda Fit- $17,397
9. Nissan Cube- $17,679
10. Mazda3- $17,995
How do you feel about athletes using drugs to enhance their performance? Would you say it doesn’t matter because everyone is using them or should it keep being banned as it has been trying to be? I am against all types of drugs used for any other purpose but a disease or an infection. I even hate when people take aspirin, sleeping pills or any other over the counter drug just because. I am a doctor and if something I know is that is not healthy using these pills when not necessary. Now, four years after his destitution, cyclist Floyd Landis decided to “come out clean” and admitted he was doping throughout his professional career. He also said that many of his top competitors, including Lance Armstrong, also used banned performance enhancing drugs. My question is, if you want to come out clean because you know it is wrong, why do you have to start pointing out fingers? I am not defending Armstrong, don’t get me wrong. I am just saying that everyone should be responsible for their own actions and if you know you did something that is incorrect just take blame for yourself.
For those who do not remember, Landis won the Tour De France victory in 2006 but was stripped of his victory after tests showed drugs in his bloodstream. He came out now through a series of emails in which he accuses Armstrong’s coach to being the one who introduced him to this drugs and said that Lance himself gave him guidance about hoe to use them and hide them from regular tests. Here is the complete news story. Read it here and get to your own conclusions.
You never know when your life will change. The moment you least expect it, you can start a new career, a new job, or just have a calling to do new things in life. Over three decades ago, sister Vogt, who at the time was 52 years old, had a life calling. Her life transformed in just a few seconds and she felt the urge to put into practice her time and knowledge and dedicate it into helping the poor.
Just by listening to her lovely voice you feel the compassion and charisma the now 88-year-old Franciscan sister possesses. Vogt says that this calling started when she was touristing the eastern hemisphere. Who or what thrust her to undertake such work? The sister said that as soon as she saw the picture she took about a young girl, she knew what she had to do. “The girl in the picture told me: what are you going to do for me?”, recalled the sister. Ever since she knew she needed to move fast, start going to developing countries and help the poor. I must say that I am just mystified by this story. Knowing that there are still good people willing to leave their necessities behind to help others, people who dedicate themselves to the better welfare of our society. It is just satisfying. After long and extensive travels around the world helping others, she is now tutoring a Colombian guy who cannot see due to a face deformation. She created a touch-based system and letters in order to help him, create sentences and communicate better. “I started with the basic alphabet…wrote the word “pen” and he was able to trace it and read it”, she said in an interview with Post-Bulletin.
I know that the work I do cannot be compared to this lady’s amazing job, but I kind of relate to her. I would love to be able to do more, travel the world helping others, putting into practice my talents wherever they are needed the most. And just to think that all this wonderful work she has done started so innocently, with a simple photograph. Watch her interview, the story is called sister’s “itchy feet”.
Posted in Uncategorized
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Tagged move
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This past weekend was the grand opening of the first outdoor Rochester Downtown Farmers Market of the season. Vendors and shoppers filled the streets all day long Saturday, and I am not surprised. The Market was great. It had something for everyone’s needs.
This is the first time I attend this market place and for the record, I am impressed. My wife had a blast there. She bought a whole bunch of stuff including bread. This was one of her favorite things because, according to her, they were so fresh that they will last longer than regular bread you get at the supermarket. You must know by now that I am very outgoing, right? Well, I talked so much in there that I think I was starting to loose my voice. I talked to almost every single vendor from the 91 that were selling their goods there. They told me that business was better than other years because they now have a new payment option. The market now offers customers an electronic pay option which is great because if you are like me, I rarely have cash on me.
I deeply recommend it so go and check it out. It has a new location due to the construction on the Fourth Street Bridge. The good thing is that it is not far. It just moved a few dozen feet from the city parking lot near Bear Creek on Fourth Street Southeast. If you went last year, you know what I am talking about.
You know me, I love the outdoors. My wife and I just started organizing a whole bunch of different recreational activities for us to do with our friends and co-workers. Some of us have the equipment necessary but there are others that do not.
I want to change some of my outdoor equipment but they are so expensive at times that I usually wait until they can’t handle another shot outside. But, there is an amazing sale that will make all of us happy. Check out the website so you can see for yourself how good it is: http://hoigaards.com/. If you prefer, just go to the store. There are so many things available that it is just crazy. Hoigaard’s is located at the Miracle Mile Shopping Center on Excelsior Blvd. I am thinking of getting my own Kayak, I am not sure yet. What I do know is that I will be getting new biking attire and most likely a new bike as well.
They say spring is early in Minnesota but honestly, I am very grateful for it. As I have told you before, I love the outdoors and having sunny, warm weather brings a whole new variety of adventures.
The fact that people are sneezing, coughing, flowers are at their best and you see spring around makes me happy and it should make you happy too. This means that great weather is heading our way. Just make sure that you make good plans to enjoy it. Be careful though, especially all the asthmatic people around. Dr. Richard Sveum, chairman of asthma and allergic diseases at Park Nicollet Health System in St. Louis Park said that the warmer weather has pushed pollen counts unusually high which is usually a bad thing for them. My wife hates it because she needs to have her Kleenex always with her. We also carry around with our allergy pills and just have fun. Man, it is better than being freezing to death.
I consider this blog more than just a place where I go to write random stuff. It is very personal to me and I feel as if I am making you guys part of my life by telling you all this tips and personal occurrences in my life.
This is where I come for your advice. This is kind of like that little kids story, Snow White. Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the most beautiful of them all? Well my dear bloggers and followers, I need your help. You know how hectic my life is but there is time for everything, right? My wife and I have been talking about having a child. It was her idea but I said yes. Yes, I would think about it. But honestly, I know that she also knows that it is a very tough decision to make. She loves her job as much as I do. And what makes it more difficult is that we do not have 9 to 5 jobs. Our schedules are terrible. On the other hand, having a family of my own and raising my kids is a dream I have had for a really long time.
An emerging infectious disease caused by at least three different species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia, the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States (U.S.). The disease is named after the village of Lyme in Connecticut, where a number of cases were identified in 1975.
The treatment for this disease has been a very controversial one. One of the controversial therapies includes more than a year’s worth of antibiotics. As in any other situation, there are many activists in favor and against this measure. Lyme disease activists — who call themselves “Lymies” — are speaking out in courtrooms, state legislatures and even a new documentary, “Under Our Skin,” to argue that the experts are wrong. According to a news release from the Star Tribune, “last month, they (the activists) scored a victory in Minnesota. With the help of some sympathetic legislators, activists from the Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group pressured the state Board of Medicine to forgo, for now, the ability to discipline doctors for using the unproven treatment”.
One of the main concerns is that many people that were “diagnose” with this disease, in some cases, had no proof of ever being infected. There’s also concern that overuse of antibiotics can weaken their effectiveness and backfire on patients. On the other hand, untreated, Lyme disease can cause arthritis, heart damage and other complications. There are many opinions, expert opinions, about this situation. Nevertheless, there is not much information about it for it is a fairly new symptom. While no studies prove long-term antibiotics work, it’s still an open question scientifically, especially as researchers learn more about the disease. There have been cases reported in which people are not able to find the treatment in their states and have started to relocate to new areas where the “Lyme disease” treatment is being offered.
There was a group of new interns at the hospital this week. The guys and I were talking and remembering our days as interns. Those were days I will never ever forget. Besides the fact that I met the love of my life, I learned who my true friends were while I was in med-school.
Yet, it was the most stressful period of my life. It is funny how when we are in school and in those interning periods, we cannot wait to graduate, get out of college and just work but then we miss it so much. We wanted to make our interns feel good at their new job and do everything we wish was done for us when we were in that position. Bon Jovi was performing at the Xcel Energy Center and we were able to get tickets for all of us. It was a sold-out concert in front of a crowd of 18,000. Bon Jovi is America’s top rock band being around for 27-years. This quartet is the only U.S. group to play two nights at the X this year and the only American band to headline in stadiums this summer. We had a blast, and the guys were very happy that we made them part of the team instead of making them feel as the newbie’s.
