meds not always the answer

After an hour-long wait I had a great conversation with my doctor. I explained that the medication he suggested I take before bed (for a non-terminal issue) made me feel drowsy in the morning, almost like I was hungover and that I stopped taking it.
He told me he was glad I stopped taking it. He went on to express his frustration that drug companies create conditions and diseases that don’t exist and that while my condition might cause discomfort, the med he prescribed was by no means the only solution.
I’ve become more and more jaded with the US healthcare system and it was refreshing to talk to a doctor that didn’t feel like he was in a drug company’s back pocket.

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Education, Health

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Interfaces

Samsung skips the touchscreen, patents gesture-based phone interface
Microsoft adds twist to handhelds with force-sensing technology
So Samsung is working on gestures, and Microsoft is working on force-sensing.
Is everyone already throwing in the towel on multi-touch interfaces?
Listen, as happy iPhone owner, I know from experience that Apple has created a paradigm – but not the paradigm for multi-touch interaction. There’s a lot of room for more innovation within this realm.
Don’t be desperate
It’s one thing to jump into a new technology out of desire, but it’s another thing to do it out of desperation.
Most people will agree that Amazon.com has created one of the paradigms for e-commerce. If you’re developing a e-commerce site, be sure to spend a lot of time on Amazon.com to understand how one of the masters does it.
Now image if every company selling products online decided to completely change the e-commerce model, not because shopping carts and recommendation weren’t working, but just to do something different.
When in doubt, copy the shit of out the competition
When companies aren’t trying to come up with the next, new, new thing out of desperation, they seem to be straight up, blatantly copying the competition. It’s easy to do this. Innovation is risky and it costs a lot of money. By bypassing the whole, silly ‘innovation thing’, you can save a lot of time and money.
What you don’t bypass is looking like a jackass to the whole industry.
Hell, I’m just going to start copying the work of group94 because I think they’ve established the only way to creative engaging Flash websites.
What you’re missing out on
While you’re trying to out-innovate or copy the achievements of other companies, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to compete by creating meaningful work.
We’ve barely scratched the surface of multi-touch interfaces. Companies should be jumping on the opportunity to create new paradigms in this field (and modifying existing ones).
The LG Voyager. The Samsung F700. The LG Prada.
These aren’t phones, they’re Canal Street rip-offs.
Let’s start making some real work.

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Health

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No Meds Necessary

For about two years, I’ve had to deal with sharp pains in my legs and feet. This wasn’t muscle pain, it felt more like it was coming from my nerves.
About 2 months ago, I decided to go to the doctor to this condition diagnosed. My doctor told me it was RLS – restless leg syndrome. RLS is sort of a distant ‘cousin’ of Parkinson’s (but in no way debilitating, more of an annoyance). He prescribed me a drug called Requip. I started taking Requip and it helped alleviate the pain. One of the side effects is that is makes you drowsy, so I would only take it before bed.
Then, two weeks ago, I decided it was time to get back in shape so I began running around the Reservoir in Central Park after work. Like any good exercise regime, I’m always sure to include a solid amount of stretching before, during and after my workouts.
Since I’ve started running again, I’ve stopped taking Requip and I’ve noticed the pain in my legs and feet have almost completely disappeared.
I’m not saying this is the solution to anyone dealing with RLS (or RLS symptoms), I’m just saying that drugs are only one of many solutions to health ailments.
The Reservoir in Central Park

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Career, Health

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