What is all this about bees?  I have one year of experience in Beekeeping, repeated seven times. 
One hears about colony collapse disorder as though it was a specific entity.  Clearly there are many causes of recent beekeeping disasters.  While your friend may recount the old guy up the road who "kept" bees in a washing machine discarded in the back yard, pathogens had not yet been imported into the United States at that time.  Current research (sorry, references not included) shows that any spraying within 75 miles of the hive may reach the hive.  Where in the US could that be?  So much for organic honey. 
I was met with indifference at a recent bee meeting when I introduced the concept of "White Flag Disease" as a local cause of bee death and/or loss of profundity, i.e., They didn't do "it" as much and bee populations were handicapped.  The diagnosis is simple, especially in wealthy suburbs of the US.  There is a widespread fetish occurring.  It is sod fetish.  When leaving your driveway in the morning, look to the left and look to the right.  If there are white flags in your neighbors' lawns then some herbicide has been sprayed..  Between that, and termite, and mosquito spraying, our bees are fighting a  difficult  battle. 
Luckily my children were born before I was tramping around in the weeds as a Special Forces soldier in Vietnam where Agent Orange had been sprayed.  Could that be why I have stinking thinking and my musings are not well thought out?

Hurricanes and Help

Was 10 million dollars really transferred from FEMA funds to ICE funds by the President of the United States?  In light of Hurricane Michael I wonder how people feel about that.  How are people in Puerto Rico getting along with their recovery?

The power is out in many places around us.
It occurs to me that at least some hurricane deaths may be due to poverty.  People who say, "Oh, we'll just ride it out" are really thinking that they can't afford the expense of leaving and living elsewhere temporarily. Not everyone can get a free ride and shelter.
Evacuation and stuff:  I saw it during the evacuation for Hurricane Hugo.  A car packed with "stuff" to include birds and fish.  Barely room for the grandparents in the back seat.  No room for a spare can of gas, drinking water, or emergency toilet paper.  We have recordings of our photos, movies, and possessions (for insurance purposes) in our glove compartment and just leave.  In the long run everything is temporary.
Insurance: As a young family from very modest means (coal miners and steelworkers) we spent everything we had on schools.  We once borrowed money so that our family would be insured.   Now many people say, "I didn't have it because I couldn't afford it."  It is not easy to donate to people who chose not to have fire or flood insurance.  While high cost is a problem for many, some  people seem to be able to afford many optional conveniences.  Nonetheless we must be human and support our brothers and sisters.

I get it.  It is not funny:  Power is out all around us.  Is it time now to charge batteries and store water? 

Why dentists (or anyone) should lie or be reticent

When your mate asks you, "Does my rear end look big when I wear this?"  Of course it is better to lie and deny an affirmative answer. Either that, or be reticent and avoid giving an answer.  The following is extracted from an editorial in a dental magazine many years ago:

LIES
My first (and current) wife says "You left the potato chips unsealed and now they are stale!"  I say, "Sweetheart (I never call her the hulk to her face), thank you for calling this to my attention.  From now on I will always keep the chips sealed, and we'll always have fresh chips!"  She knows I am lying but laughs because I have said what she wanted to her.  Besides, there may be a kernel of truth in my statement.

In dental practice, a postoperative patient may say, "Exactly how long will this hurt?"  The answer could be "Six hours and eight minutes."  The patient knows that you cannot give an absolute answer to the question.  But if something is said in the right tone of voice, with some explanation, sympathy, and a measure of good humor, the patient appreciates the answer and at least has a general idea of the degree and length of discomfort expected.  Besides, there could be a kernel of truth in the statement.

RETICENCE
There may be another way to reduce stress, minimize broken appointments, and improve practice efficiency that has not been addressed in the literature or by consultants --- Reticence!  Some questions from patients are better left unanswered.
Consider this example:  Elwood P. Snerdly drives to the office for his first appointment.  He knows that it is a one-hour drive but only allows only 30 minutes for travel time.  To save face, when he arrives his first comment is "Why are the numbers on your office entrance so small?  It took 30 minutes driving around to find this place."  (They really are large, but the blinking red floodlight out front is broken, and the beam of light coming from the top of the building, like an airport beacon, does not show up well during daylight hours.)  The solution --- use reticence.  Don't answer the question about small numbers!  An example of the suggested response in our office is: "We were worried about you!  We are glad you made it safely and have been looking forward to helping you solve your dental health problems."

It is the contention of the caregiver ("provider" in insurance speak) that patients/clients/customer are much less likely to break appointments when a relationship has been well established.  Appointment pre-mailings and telephone calls may ameliorate broken appointment problems.  Office "rules" may possibly result in some sense of satisfaction for the staff, but are unlikely to have great positive effect.  But keeping track of patients' needs desires, and interests, and discussing those subjects with the patient may have a much more positive effect.  After all, "It's about me" (the patient).  Is the patient a dog lover:  Proud of his children and/or grandchildren?  A pilot?  A fisherman?  It is clear that patients who are convinced of our interest in preventing and solving their dental problems, and convinced of our interest in them as persons will be much more likely to avoid cancellations and broken appointments and to maintain long term relationships with us.  Surely this is a better approach to preventing cancelled and broken appointments.

In addition to the other techniques and philosophies which we use to provide the best and most efficient care for our patients, we could also consider using "Lies and Reticence."


Given our current social and political climate couldn't this be a rational approach to personal interactions?

A philosophy of life - Lies and Reticence

Schedule will not allow daily posting,  but check once in a while.  You may find this philosophy and other postings interesting.