or, Consider the Source
February 9, 2024
Well, as you have probably guessed “my people” are having difficulty monetizing me, so…
Whenever I run into someone who regularly views Fox or Newsmax or One Way — their talking points on various issues (or political personalities) always reveal where they get their information from: their Source(s). Hurrah for Jon Stewart — hopefully making a triumphant return!
I too have Sources from which I glean my information — but I am embarrassed to say that my Source for To Cure or Not to Cure did not dig as deeply as I thought she had — and I subsequently passed on dated information about multiple myeloma.
Come to find out that the Israelis haven’t cornered the Car T-cell therapy market (which To Cure or Not to Cure intimated)! As NBC News reported — Car T-cells have been, and are being, used to treat the disease right here in the good old US in Boston- and Washington DC-based hospitals to excellent outcomes.
One thing I was correct about, however, was the exorbitant cost of this treatment here in US (from $500,000-up to $1,000,000.00!). NBC reported on a 27,000-person study with a phenomenal cure rate: they couldn’t all be multi-millionaires, could they?
Apparently, however, about 25 people in this study developed a secondary cancer that researchers are now trying to determine whether or not the Car T-cells caused. Even if the Car T-cells caused the secondary cancer — they still seem to do better than many of the drugs advertised on television which, in some cases, can also lead to death! But back to my Source…
My Source for my brother’s multiple myeloma condition is a woman who always wishes to be right — even if she is wrong. So fervent is she in making her truth-compromised points that I let her slide — instead of challenging her as she dismisses my perceptions as “always wrong.” And no, I’m not talking about Wife Giti (even though she says I’m always wrong too).
I’m talking about a strong-willed female acquaintance who is well educated and well traveled and who knows how to navigate her way around the Internet. But this shouldn’t prevent me from better vetting. I think I have to quit deferring to strong-willed women: my Mother is also strong-willed and only now, entering her 90th year, does she consider mulling over a 2nd or 3rd opinion — which she forgets almost immediately and knee-jerks back to the first opinion.
It’s curious that I have never made a habit of deferring to strong-willed men (like my Father). I don’t mind male opposition! I take male challenges as calls to battle — and regularly jousted with men who took my POV as bullshit…and I think I just stumbled upon the solution to my dilemma: I don’t like to fight with, or lose to, women. I don’t feel this way in challenges with men…with strong women I always feel there exists a possibility that…
But enough of my self-serving analysis!
I can’t ALWAYS be wrong, can I? Invoking The Principle of Thirds (which my readers should be familiar with) I should at least be right 33 percent of the time — which does not equate to ALWAYS being wrong!
Thankfully, with the upcoming format change to The Doctor’s Inn — my readers will be able to nip erroneous information in the bud and generate frequent mea culpas from me.
In the immortal words of Gwen Olsen (I’m paraphrasing here): Get the facts! The life of someone you love could be at stake if you pass on, or fall prey to, erroneous information.
And a favorite line of mine from my “practicing” days is: Love your Mother and respect her — but never trust her…