Uncover Old World magic in the Azores
(from the May-June 2007 issue)
The hot steam rising from the earth is so thick we can barely make out other figures who, like us, are standing over this field of burbling lava, which stinks of sulphur. Beneath us, the muddy ground seethes and hisses “like cauldrons of hell” someone murmured. We are here because, in one of the steamy holes, our dinner is being cooked. This highly unusual dining ritual is taking place on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean.
In fact, there’s nothing usual about these islands. There are nine of them; all different. Volcanoes that erupted on the bottom of the Atlantic gave rise to these green landforms, separated from their homeland of Portugal by about 1300 kilometres—two and a half days by sea.
We arrive by plane, catching our first glimpse of emerald peaks rising out of the navy blue sea like mythical monsters. Isolated and wreathed in cloud, some believe these are the mountaintops of the lost city of Atlantis.
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Outgoing CMA Prez McMillan talks tough
(from May/June 2007 issue)
OTTAWA—The thing to know about Dr. Colin McMillan, is that he comes from Prince Edward Island. That says a lot about the country-style doctor who is president of the Canadian Medical Association.
When you come from a province with only 140,000 people, it is just about possible to know everybody in the entire province. At least every patient you have is related to somebody you know. That has an effect. Everything you say will get back to you.
It tends to make a man more honest, more likely to shoot straight. That sounds a lot like McMillan.
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Dr. Steve makes a game attempt
(from the May-June 2007 issue)
Like many of you out there, I am a parent, and over the past several years, I have noticed a phenomenon. Rather than spending time with his friends playing hockey or basketball, my teenage son has become entranced with something called ‘gaming’. His favorite game is called Gears of War, which he plays on his Microsoft Xbox 360, but he also likes Call of Duty and Halo. So popular are these games that schools now sponsor tournaments to support charities.
The machines that run these games—Xbox and Sony PlayStation—are powerful computers that often have wireless capability and allow players to engage in team play over the Internet. Gaming has become so popular that it is now a multibillion dollar industry that rivals the movie industry. The lines between media industries has been blurred, with games like Doom spawning movies and Grand Theft Auto being turned into a popular soft drink ad.
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Using improvisation to open communications
(from the May-June 2007 issue)
In the last two columns, we’ve literally moved you out of the office, but sometimes you can get just as much relaxation and insight by simply moving out of your head—which is quite distinct from going out of your mind—and allowing thoughts to flow freely. Such is the case with improvisational theatre—improv.
As a medical practitioner, you are frequently called upon to make quick choices about a patient. Sure, you rely on years of medical training and experience, and your specialty provides you with guidelines that provide generally accepted practices. But patients are individuals, bringing a basketful of particulars that sets their case apart from others. Thus, you are required to adapt the guidelines and experience to suit the new situation.
The same is true for improv. As part of an improv group, you may walk into a situation with preconceptions or even have a plan of attack, but the people and events around you typically force you onto tangents. It is only your quick wit and willingness to react rather than act—to cede control—that keeps things moving.
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Final Day on the Dark Continent |
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By Dr. Roberto Leon
(from the March/April 2007 Stitches)
Welcome to the Kruger National Park, a sanctuary of pristine African wilderness the size of Wales, stretching along the northwest border of South Africa—bounded by Mozambique to the east and Zimbabwe to the north.
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Final Day on the Dark Continent |
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By Dr. Roberto Leon
(from the March/April 2007 Stitches)
Welcome to the Kruger National Park, a sanctuary of pristine African wilderness the size of Wales, stretching along the northwest border of South Africa—bounded by Mozambique to the east and Zimbabwe to the north.
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