One of the krav instructors I trained with (the one who showed up and said "Email address? Why would I have one of those?") had a few asides like "That's not what it's like if you stab them with a screwdriver though" and "Works better with a brick."

It was a pretty illuminating week. I mean, you expect the cops and the soldiers..the gangbangers who are trying to find a legal way to make money off their violent experiences--that was a new thing for me.

True stories from the 911 headset: completely strung out guy (sounded like a tweaker) starts yelling that he's been robbed. Now, usually when tweakers yell that they've been robbed, what they really mean is that someone stole something from them like 3 hours ago, but I humored him and started asking questions. The story unfolds to: 3 guys were in his basement, and he scared them off. So I'm working on a description, and he volunteers that they made off with like 8 mature pot plants and a whole slew of grow supplies. Then in the middle of describing the guys, he mentions "and the third guy had a gun." ORLY. Nice thing to not mention up front. So i get a description of the gun. He says maybe it was a capgun...so I ask if it had a red or orange tip (like an airsoft) and he says no, and the guy shot off a cuple round in his house. Dear me, this call went from a cold burg to an armed home invasion with shots fired in less than 60 seconds. Then I ask if the guy with the gun was the driver or the passenger in the car...nope, he was sitting in the trunk. Really, the trunk? Like, of a hatchback? Nope, a 4 dr sedan. With the trunk flapping open in the breeze. So now this picture emerges of a beater car speeding off with 2 tweakers in the front seat, a backseat full of pot plants, and a gun man hanging on in the trunk. So utterly wierd. Then on my way home I saw a bright pink stretch HUMV. Thanks Portland, for keeping it wacky!

I don't think I went to high school with anyone who turned out to be a murderer, but who knows.

Dr. Will aka Dr. Evil from Big Brother graduated the year before I did, but I didn't know him at all.

I went to high school with several people who are now investment bankers and suchlike. I presume they're sort of like Wolfram and Hart employees - technically, not criminals, but...

I went to high school with several people who are now investment bankers and suchlike. I presume they're sort of like Wolfram and Hart employees - technically, not criminals, but...

Heh. I went to high school with a fellow who is now an ER doc who believes that health insurance is bullshit and people should pay for their medical care out of pocket or just don't get medical care. I am NOT making one syllable of that up.

Somewhat of a jackassy opinion to have if you're in the business of caring for people, I feel. Not technically a criminal, but not someone I want "caring" for my health. (Although, ironically, he *did,* when I ended up in his ER when I thought I was having chest pains which turned out to be nothing. He was an excellent doctor, but the whole time all I could think was, "Are you going to be consistent with your beliefs and NOT accept payment from my insurance company, since you think insurance is bullshit?")

I wonder if he knows that before health insurance, many doctors were poor. Doctors in the Depression in rural areas would often accept eggs and chickens as payment, and be glad to get them.

Yeah, he's someone I stopped talking to (with the exception of the ER visit) after his rant on the evils of health insurance.

Do no harm, my ass.

I was shocked when I was watching the news one night and realized I went to school with a woman who was accused of killing her newborn. She wasn't' someone I knew well, just someone I knew of. There have been several drug arrests too.

Heh. I went to high school with a fellow who is now an ER doc who believes that health insurance is bullshit and people should pay for their medical care out of pocket or just don't get medical care. I am NOT making one syllable of that up.

I have a buddy from college, that is now a dentist, with very similiar views. They seem to be rather Libertarian in skew. The notion is, the amount of money the average person spends on insurance, both employee and and employer paid, would be better off given to the employee to save/invest on their own. And when a doctor visit comes around, they have the money. Of course, part of that problem is, we as Americans tend to not be so great at saving money. Second, that works for a routine visit to the doctor. But once you get tests and what not. Or an ER visit. Or Surgery. Yup. You'd have to save for YEARS. I look at my little fall in Vegas to get dozen stitiches in my nogen. Looks to be over $3,000 in bills for that. So far, just $50 co pay for me. Sure, I've been paying a couple hundred a month from my paycheck. But, if something as simple as some stitches costs $3,000 I can't fathom how much a broken arm would cost.

But, if something as simple as some stitches costs $3,000 I can't fathom how much a broken arm would cost.

BWAHAHAHA!!!

• *cough**

My it's-just-a-sprain-no-it's-broken-oops-let's-do-surgery arm is running about 12K. We have a 5k family deductible.

ACK.