Insightful comment

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Education, Just a question, Patient Education, Stupid People, Television, Work Sucks

I received a pretty solid comment from “southernpharmer” in response to Non-Drowsy Claritin.

I have found (in my limited experience) that people ask for your professional opinion only to hope that it agrees with what they already had in mind because that is what they are gonna do regardless. I want to help, but WHY WHY do these people waste both mine and their time???

That sums it up completely. People don’t care what I think. People don’t care that I have a doctorate in pharmacy. People don’t care that I know how to treat almost any disease that they could seek OTC meds for or that I can look it up very quickly and easily if I don’t know. People don’t care that I’ve been in pharmacy for many years and damn near heard it all.

All people believe deep down that they are actually intelligent. Here’s the fact: they are not. The average American IQ is 98 (that’s a weak source, if you find a better one, I’ll change this). As we all know, there is going to be an equal distribution about that mean. Those above that likely don’t ask the pharmacist for help — they go to the cough and cold aisle, read the boxes, and pick the product they need. Those at or below that ask a friend, family member, or watch TV (also considered a family member). Then they come to the pharmacy and ask me — to see if I’m as smart as the television that said “MUCINEX GETS THE MUCUS OUT!” If I am as smart as that there picture-box, they say, “That’s what I thought!” IF I say something different than what they wanted, it could go one of three [main] ways.

1. They accept my professional opinion, thank me, and purchase the product I recommended.
2. They hold the product in their hand, thank me, put it down (in the wrong spot) after I walk away, and buy the product their friend or television told them about.
3. They listen to me, potentially believe me, but then argue with me about the product their friend (or television) told them is the BEST available — even if it doesn’t treat the problem they are having (Like pseudoephedrine for chest congestion or plain Mucinex for a cough).

I hate ESPN

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as --Not Pharmacy--, Baseball, Television

I’m a huge baseball fan. But, I’m gonna lay this out for all to see:

I HATE ESPN

Why is that? Because ESPN has a contract with Major League Baseball that allows them to televise any game they want, when they want. They usually show Wednesday and Sunday games. If those particular games were scheduled to be broadcast on another station, they get bumped for ESPN.

So, why does ESPN suck dick? Because they only show THREE teams’ games. The Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and New York Mets are the main staple of ESPN’s dinner of shit.

It pisses me the hell off. I mean, I don’t want to watch the Pirates play the Diamondbacks each week, but gosh dammit I am sick of seeing Boston play the Yankees. It’s like the two of them don’t play anyone else but each other…and that fat fuck ESPN announcer and Joe Morgan spend their evening sucking off the Yankees, Arod, and Derek Jeter.

I hate the Yankees more than I hate anything — doctors, drug regs, combination drugs that costs hundreds when the two parts are dirt cheap, even lifetime welfare recipients. So, I refuse to watch…but it pisses me off hardcore and I wish the Yankees would go 62-100 this year…nothing would make me happier.

If anyone knows a place where we can compare the stats on number of ESPN games over the past few years, I’d love to see it. I’m betting that these three teams comprise 80-90% of the games televised on ESPN…why? Because they are the “big market teams.” Yet, I’ve never met anyone that admitted to being a Yanks fan…if they did, I’d kick em in the nuts.

Movie etiquette

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as --Not Pharmacy--, Me being a dick, Television, True Story, Video

I recently went to the movies. I, of course, went and saw The Dark Knight. I enjoyed the movie, but as I embarked on my experience, I noticed from start to finish that people are either complete assholes or flaming imbeciles. With this post, I hope to help quell some of the emotions (anger) that I am feeling right now.

First and foremost, at blockbuster movies you are going to have to get there early to get good seats. I arrived about 45 minutes before showtime to I could sit in the back, upper section…in the middle of course. If you get there late, I don’t feel sorry for you having to sit your ass in the front section. Along the same lines, since I arrived 45 minutes early, if I see your ass running to the door as the start letting people in, I am going to kick you so hard your prostate will shatter.

Now, moving right along, let’s talk about the seating in general. There’s about 220 seats in the giant digital screen theaters these days. The Dark Knight and other big movies will fill every fucking seat. Meaning, when you go in don’t leave a fucking seat in between you and the next schmuck. It’s a pain in the ass, and it does nothing but cause problems. Seriously — I am sick of Americans and their insatiable need for personal space and property. Are you really that scared that your arm might touch another human being’s elbow? Fucking crap people…Just sit next to someone, that way when people come in after you they don’t have to stand at the end of the row saying, “is that seat taken??” over and over again.

I saw 2 couples to my right leave a space in between them…in The Dark Knight…where every seat will be filled. Finally, some smartass, not unlike myself if in the same situation, came in and said whilst pointing, “You and you, move down so the rest of us can sit…” — The quickly moved down — hopefully they realized they were idiots — and since they are idiots I claimed the armrest as my own…

Finally, don’t even bring your fucking cell phone. You don’t need to talk. You don’t need to text. You don’t need another opportunity for me to hate you and think that you are a fucking asshole — I already do. If I built/owned a theater, you can bet your ass I’d line the ceiling and walls in copper mesh to keep all radio/cellular signals OUT of my place of business. That’d be the only way to keep the modern-day hippster off of his phone for 2 hours.

It never fails, out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of some prick pulling out his iPhone…checking his email or some other stupid bullshit that could’ve waited. Just don’t even fucking bring it. Seriously…

What to write about today? TV and Baseball!

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as --Not Pharmacy--, Baseball, Television

Let’s talk about television, as today was another same-ole same-old day. No super dick moves out of me recently — at least humorous ones towards the customer.

Here’s a quick list of my TOP 6 favorite TV Shows:
House, MD
The Andy Griffith Show
The Colbert Report
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Family Guy
South Park

I like House because he acts exactly like me, though I am not nearly as smart. He is rude, brash, abrasive, and simply doesn’t require the approval of others to reach his goal (which is merely solving the puzzle — not saving a life.) I do value human life quite a bit more, however. I also enjoy the fact that I fully comprehend 99% of what they are talking about. The show’s writers and producers make no effort to explain acronyms, tests, diagnosis, etc — and the way the show is formatted it simply doesn’t matter to the average viewer which will not have a clue that “by administering IFN-alfa2a with Ribavirin over 24 weeks we can help reduce transaminases, reduce HCV-RNA Viral Load, and slow progression to fulminant Hep-C (rare), cirrhosis, or death.” It’s a great show with limitless potential for subject matter. Hugh Laurie is also perfect for the role — His American accent is flawless. Ever see him on a talk show? Hard-core British accent…

The Andy Griffith Show has been a favorite of mine since I was a child watching it with my old man. He grew up when the episodes were “new” — while I’ve never viewed a Black and White show having a first airing in my lifetime. The show makes me wish times were simpler, the pace of life was slower, and people cared (or even knew) about their neighbor. The local pharmacist was a woman (which would have been unheard of during that time), but she made rootbeer floats, deliveries, and ran her own business without the hurdles of big pharma, insurance companies, and customers with a rush-rush-rush attitude wanting something for nothing (and their antibiotics for free).

The Colbert Report is a very funny show. I think his announcement that he is running for President is probably one of the best publicity stunts of my generation. I know that if he can get the 18-26 year olds to register and vote, he could feasibly win…but I don’t think that we’ll see “Man of the Year” coming to fruition in 2008.

Star Trek: The Next Generation has long been a favorite of mine…My friends make fun of me for it, but I stand by my choice. I think in the generations to come, some of the technologies they utilize will actually be available (recent discoveries were just made in terms of quantum mechanics and transportation — they can transfer energy from one object to another object in a different location…but it destroys the first object…It’s a start!). I have always been facinated with the stars, galaxies, and potential for life outside of earth. I’d hope to meet a Vulcan someday, but I don’t know about that.

Family Guy was one of my favorite shows before it was cancelled from the Fox lineup the first time. I own all the DVD sets, and think it is hilarious. I’d also consider putting South Park above it at times, but the types of humor and content of the shows are each completely different. SP has the ability to focus on current topics since they utilize computers to generate the show. The show that was just aired could have been completed earlier that day. Regardless, Stewie is likely my favorite animated character ever. I just love the intelligent humor they portray through him, as well as the grotesque humor they use — like making him sexually-curious. Considering South Park, I really like the messages they are putting out there. They’ve grown from poop jokes to political humor and analysis without forgetting their roots and still throwing in the occasional fart joke for good measure. Some don’t like their “new format” — but I’m content with the fact that I am entertained with 30 minutes…

-=+=-

Congrats to the Red Sox fans…I could’ve cared less if they won or lost…as long as the Yankees are as far away from first as possible, I’m happy.

I woulda like to see the Rockies win a game, but they peaked to early.

I’m also pleased that Johnny Damon shaved and got a haircut, but ultimately picked the wrong pony. Sure, he got a raise…but he ain’t got a World Series ring…prick…

Happy Filling…
The Angriest Pharmacist