That bit about being seen by the guy in the ER fresh off the boat is real, and not new. But it is the result of having too much government and bad ideas in medicine. Affirmative action is a white woman’s jobs program. Take a look at the participants in you college biology department. Daddy’s little princess is going to go to med school, take up time doing a residency in a competitive field, and then drop out of the job or work part time in order to have it all (beta hubby and kids via IVF). The ones who make up the deficit are immigrant H1-B’s and the minorities who were let in over your cousin who couldn’t understand why no med school accepted him.The high achieving white men, many of whom are related to people with academic connections, are perfectly OK with this situation. The vague acceptance criteria created by the affirmative action bullshit enable them to do favors for friends that they make at various academic and professional meetings, and these favors are traded around informally. “Oh, I heard Jack’s son got the best poster presentation ate the last BDXQ. That’s great! I’m writing a recommendation for him to be included in Fred’s next pool of residents.”When my Dad went to med school it was common knowledge that there were about four spots reserved for the school president to make personal choices as to whom to accept. There was one prominent rich girl who was graduated through and who was made to swear on a Bible that she would never touch a live patient. She ended up writing a medical column in a magazine owned by her husband.Affirmative action provides cover for these kinds of things today. That’s why the former section president talks about how important diversity is at the conferences. It isn’t because he gives a Damn about blacks, its because he wants to be able to get his buddy’s kids into his program in exchange for someone else giving his boy a spot.This is why elite self perpetuation is seeming to accelerate despite all the egalitarian rhetoric. Because it is!The other side of the coin is the complacency of the public regarding the localized monopolization of health care by huge oligoplolistic systems. Your small player isn’t being driven into the big system by economics, but by regulations and compliance costs. There is always talk of economies of scale, but somehow the benefits of such always disappear when the next step into the abyss of bigness is taken. And if there is any economic benefit it always goes to the managerial class and the temples they build to themselves.And as we know from watching the decline of civilizations the building always reaches a fever pitch just before the collapse. (And subsequent takover by the next big player)

Zman – just wanted to say that I love your podcasts. I listen to a lot of different ones, and yours are among the best out there. No homo.

Poor me. Deaf as a post, can’t appreciate the podcasts. https://www.vicaps.com/closed-captioning-services/

Remember Z, your people listen to the podcasts for content, and you do not need to over edit. post-production. I could lead you to shocking >>>” umm, ahh wait on I am thinking” podcasts, and yours is not that.Content, content, contentI would say you retain a high level of podcast interest, nice clean segments, so best to retain winning formula all the best for 2018.

Just want to say that I look forward to the weekly podcast. Definitely a fan now.

Regarding ethnic surfing, hasn’t the author seen Apocalypse Now? “Charlie don’t surf!”https://youtu.be/uU9Y1sNs1rs Even The Clash sing about this.https://youtu.be/bossv8SKXv4?t=1m4sWhere has this guy been?

I don’t know why people are protesting in Iran or whether the CIA is behind it all, but the idea that it’s all over pipelines supplying oil and she to Europe is nonsense. Wars over pipeline routes don’t make sense economically, technically, or politically and the theory falls apart at the slightest inspection. But I admit, it’s a resilient theory, which is why I write about ithere:Whenever the US gets involved in a conflict somewhere in the world there is always, always somebody on the American Right who will come out with some bizarre conspiracy theory involving a pipeline.I admire your work Zman, but I think you’re way off on this one. FWIW I work in the oil and gas industry, inc. Middle East and Russia, and been involved in pipeline and LNG projects.

I’m sorry, i don’t listen to podcasts, I read while listening to music. I wait to read the transcripts of Derb ‘s podcasts. I regret the columns which don’t appear because of promoting podcasts.

It’s like the experts say ” We’ve upped our game. So up yours.” Seriously tho. I love the podcasts. Keep them coming.

You’re a funny guy, Zman. Not “What am I, a clown?” funny, but yes, you amuse me. The show is getting better. Your casual dismissal of the mentally insane progressives is genuinely funny.I was introduced to the “Bro Science” you tube channel about 3 years ago, and the guy is hilarious, although that schtick has run its course and become tiresome. Mike (the guy who plays The Brofessor) and his partner Gian have been putting out youtube videos for about 10 years under multiple channels. Their previous channel, “Dom vs” or some such, is a collection of clever shorts satirizing a typical Jersey Shore dego loser.Speaking of clever, I thought I was so for coming up with the term “Resolutionist” a few years ago to describe the herd of gym goers waiting in line to do barbell curls at the squat rack on January 2nd. But I realize now that I probably heard the term “resolutioner” at some point and it unconsciously influenced my version of the subspecies.Keep up the good work.

“Mountaineer… two men skilled in the climbing of mountains… jolly good!”

Well I was thinking about getting my teeth whitened but may now expand this to other areas thanks to you Zman. Didn’t get a Hitler phone for Christmas. Come to find out that is for our betters or as you put it , Cloud people.

Great podcast this week. Love the Bro Science and Xirl Science segments

Z-man I’ve been using Reaper for audio mixing and editing and it is excellent. Free eval download you can extend indefinitely. I use a Mackie 400f mixer but a lot of others will do.