Wowee, Catalyst was really worth watching tonight

Dr Maryanne Demasi continues to cement her reputation as a thorn in the side of the medical profession in Australia, After tonight's broadcast she must be about as popular as a turd in a punchbowl. Unlike an earlier report by Demasi, I was more impressed than shocked by tonight's story, but I'm eager to see what shape the reaction might take. I loved seeing oncologist Dr Ranjana Srivastava, who was a steady beacon of reason on the current affairs debate TV show Q & A a while ago, a much better representative of science than the loud and annoying Neil deGrasse Tyson. If Dr Srivastava was a politician I'd be campaigning for her night and day. I'd even take the time to learn how to pronounce her name. I was delighted to see Dr Melissa Raven making an appearance on tonight's Catalyst, with her calm and carefully-chosen words. I was interested to note how many women were among the professionals bold enough to criticise the way medicine is practiced in Australia, and noted that Dr Peter Gotzsche was thanked at the story's web page for his assistance. Congrats, Dr Demasi. You are one to watch, for sure. 

Trust me, I'm a doctor!

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4339690.htm

Lili's opinion of the day

For many Australians, doctors, psychiatrists and assorted helping professionals have replaced priests, gurus, spiritual leaders, pastors and ministers of religion as the people to turn to for guidance in how to live in dignity and decency. Working things out for one's self is a difficult job. It has always been easier to go ask an authority figure. 

Lili's second-thought of the day

Maybe I should apologise for my last blog post. It was rather personal and insulting. Hmm. Nah.

Lili's thought for the day

Peter Dutton, I think I've found your doppelganger:
http://www.zastavki.com/pictures/originals/2013/Movies_The_monster_from_the_movie_Alien_047812_.jpg

Lili's apology for the day

Sorry, I didn't realise that last night was a Val Lewton double-bill, with Bedlam followed by Mademoiselle Fifi. I hadn't spotted the second as another Lewton classic because I'm not familiar with his non-horror films, but it was highly memorable for the scathing depiction of wealthy people, with a political subtext that has a rosy-red glow. My eye missed the Lewton link with the second movie, so I guess I'm not nearly the expert that I thought I was! 

The good news is that there's another movie coming up very soon on ABC1 that was produced by the synaesthete genius Val Lewton.The Seventh Victim is on tonight, or to be correct, scheduled for broadcast very early tomorrow morning: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/seventh-victim/#/episode/ZY6511A001S00 

Three Lewton films in two days! Who needs sleep? 

Lili's inspiration for the day

Some Australian doctors acting like true professionals, moral leaders, decent human beings: 
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/oct/12/children-detention-suffer-lifelong-harm-melbourne-royal-childrens-hospital-doctors-video

I guess I'll have to stop heaping shit on the medical profession for a while. 

Lili's unasked and unanswered question for the day

Is it the case that the world is full of troublesome tricksters, their minds set on ridicule or deceit, or is it more the truth that you are so dimwitted and wilfully ignorant that you are a soft target and also a hazard to yourself and those that you care for? 

Lili's puzzle for the day

If the Bunnings staff selection process is so stringent, how do you explain that guy in the middle?

Lili's tip for this week

More Val Lewton on the ABC this week; Bedlam starring Boris Karloff, on in the small hours of Wednesday:
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/bedlam/

Lili's tip for the day

The Val Lewton classic film The Ghost Ship to be broadcast on ABC1 in the small hours of Thursday:
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/ghost-ship/#/episode/ZY6495A001S00

Lili's thought for the day

Trust me, I'm a doctor.....

https://www.facebook.com/timesx2/videos/1631543983766840/

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2015/09/28/4318883.htm

Lili's fun fact for the day

The Barry J Marshall Library at the University of Western Australia, which specializes in materials for science students, offers a total of 16 copies of a psychology textbook that explains on page 559 how "In peptic ulcers, for example, stress-produced out-pouring of peptic acid into the stomach produces an actual lesion in the stomach wall." Very scientific!