Why I’m Thinking of Moving to Alaska

October 22nd

By Howard Sachs, MD, PhD

Last week, CNN news was evaluating the economic recession throughout the United States. and announced that Alaska was less affected than most states, and also with more job opportunities. Simultaneously, they showed images of the breathtaking beauty of the Alaskan countryside. Those images were inspirational and made me recall the spectacular sites that I experienced on my travels through the Himalayas and Antarctica where I could engage in the magnificence of nature, a rare experience, which inspired me to dream,” Why not live in such a place?

I therefore Googled availability of retirement facilities in Alaska and received much encouraging information, even about the possibility of a job as a neurologist. When I mentioned my thoughts to the people at the retirement community where I live, most were terror stricken at the thought of moving to the last frontier for whatever reason, possibly away from the creature comforts so precious to them.

A childhood friend in NYC warned that I was really a slum city boy and belonged there amongst the poisonous atmosphere of the city, where the thought of living in a mile of people and environment that are part of nature is inconceivable. As poisonous as the city air is the atmosphere here is far worse where the living corpses are fed enormous quantities to give the impression of at least dying in luxury. I would prefer to have my ashes spread about some snow capped mountain peaks. I’m still calling for information and hope to make an exploratory visit before moving, — wish me luck or join me.

Gutless Politicians. Oct 13 2009

Gutless Politicians

by Howard SAchs, MD, PhD

Returned from the pure, fresh air and again mistakenly clicked on CNN news, — the Senate debate over healthcare and Afghanistan. The broadcaster asked one senator if he would vote “Yes for the Healthcare Bill with a government option?” His reply was that “Yes, he favors more jobs and full employment for all Americans.” The reporter then asked another senator “if she favored more troops for Afghanistan?” Her reply was that, “her concept of marriage was between a man and a woman.” Another senator from his safe, warm seat said “that we should think carefully before endangering the lives of our young men and women.”

Never having been raised on a cattle farm, I regrettably didn’t understand   a word of the debate in the senate language of “pure bullshit.”

Certain Death for GIs in Afghanistan?

Why Must They Die?

By Howard, MD, PhD. howardsachs@rocketmail.com

The enemy is not the standard set of armor, holding a position to be blown away and overcome. Who and where is the enemy? It amazes me to observe those Senators who have been to Afghanistan, advocating “Sending more troops to this vast Islamic land to exterminate the most fanatical segments, The Taliban, or Al Qaeda, hidden in an endless system of caves and mountains in a terrain resembling “the face of the moon,” as well as being sheltered by much of the Islamic population. Must we then destroy the population of Afghanistan, and then go on to Iran, which at least owns WMD and the means of delivery? And what about the North Korea nation with ownership of the above?

Must we cleanse the world militarily with marines to forestall any further “9/11?  Or are there alternative approaches to achieving a peaceful world? Don’t there exist moderate forces within the Islamic world with which we can co – exist in a harmonious way of life?

Breathing Some Life into a Picnic

Sept 8^th -  By Howard Sachs, MD, PhD

In 1964, I spent a sabbatical leave year in Rome, teaching at the Italian higher institute of health.  Usually, I would take my lunch with the maintenance men at the Institute, because they knew where the best trattorias were located at the best prices and for other reasons that I will describe.  Usually, after a great Italian lunch (which was their man meal of the day) and always included red wine, since a sacred tenet of the land “ is that no dinner food may pass into the stomach without at least a spoonful of red wine.” Furthermore, after the dinner and a cup of Espresso, they would spontaneously burst into song, songs of life and love, well known to all. The streets of Rome would ring with their joyous songs, and we’d return to the Institute satiated with life. At the retirement community where I now live, we return from a holiday picnic  satiated with food and stumble into our beds for a post picnic snooze. The lesson is obvious, with the ice cream dessert sandwich, passed out the song sheets of moving songs, including “ God Bless America,” for the most fervently patriotic.

Preparing for Medical Practice in the Third World

By Howard Sachs, MD, PhD

During our last Tuesday a. m. discussion group, Ester B. happened to mention that her granddaughters were planning on going to medical school, and thereafter, joining “Doctors Without Borders.” (DWB). This evoked many exclamations of “Ooh, how fine and admirable.” The DWB sounds very glamorous and has had a good press, but there are many hard questions to ask before embarking on such a career and being dropped in some third world country with a group from DWB.

I  began medical school at age 47 with the ambition to eventually work in third world medicine. I have worked in about 8 third world countries, which I located on my own, and who invited me to come and help out in my areas of expertise. In these countries I taught clinical neurology, Biochemistry and engaged in general medicine. But if I had to do over again, I most certainly, would have gone about it differently. My advice then to these girls would be: find out where the DWB is planning on sending them, what are there principal needs? If it’s infectious disease, then take your residency in Infectious Disease, if it’s trauma or wounds, get to do lots of surgery, what do these people think causes disease, do Shamans treat them currently, learn something of their religion and culture, language. What are their real needs at the moment? Perhaps your weight in a suitcase of antibiotics, or sterile supplies would be more useful then your presence, although not as self satisfying. Also, many of these places are near the most exotic and wondrous parts of the world. Therefore bring a backpack, canteen and only what you can carry. Plan your trip for when your work is up, will you be near the Himalayas, the Taj Mahal, Machu Pichu, or Antarctica? – Good Luck

P. S.  Keep a daily diary