I hope you don't get into Med School, you prick.

The title says it all. I have a certain acquaintance, with whom I share my Embryology class, who is currently going through medical school interviews. In his inexhaustible and thorough rehersals of model answers to commonly, and uncommonly asked interview questions, he has managed to alienate himself from his friends. Truthfully, I don't think any one of us who know him in that class want him to make it.

A few weeks ago, while he was prattling on about yet another possible question and perfect answer, I offered to critique his responses. I suggested that though the content of his answer was correct, his method of delivery was discontinuous and lacked confidence. I alleged that his technique of memorizing lists of key points to recite led to discontinuity in his statements. His mind, seeking to spit out as much information as possible, performs far faster than he is able to communicate his thoughts. The result is a conglomerate of half-finished ideas and phrases. On top of that, he has a habit of saying "you know?" and tends to turn every statement into a question with that rising inflection in his voice. So, it seemed like he was asking a series of questions rather than making a series of statements, possibly to elicit confirmatory replies or acknowledgement or appraising nods from the interviewer.

What was his response to me? He became hostile and defensive (as if he could do no wrong), and questioned my credibility and knowledge of what a good answer entailed, "What the hell do YOU know? The people who I did mock interviews with said I was fine." So sorry, but if you're looking for a yes-man, you won't find one in me. I resisted the urge to become hostile and defensive myself, and explained that I focused specifically on his methods of communication rather than the content he was communicated. He maintained that I was definitely not the authority on the matter, even when one of our other friends in the class chimed in, supporting my evaluation of his 'perfect' response.

Needless to say, where once I was one of the few who could tolerate his presence, he has managed to do the difficult and make an enemy of me. Even today, before our Embryo midterm, while the group of us were running through the practice exams, some of the other guys' were ignoring his constant scheming for more clever answers and strategies for the interview.

I hope he doesn't get what he wants in life, and for me to wish that upon someone probably takes quite an effort on their part to antagonize me.

Sid Smith Bazaar

I'm posting for the sake of posting now. My topic that I alluded to before isn't ready to be posted.

In the recent months, the Sidney Smith building at the heart of Arts and Science has turned into something akin to a slummy bazaar in the outskirts of Istanbul. Please allow me to outline the similarities. 1) Gathering of poor people. 2) As soon as someone steps through the door, they are hounded by clusters of people trying to sell (not in the traditional sense of the word) something. 3) Stands/booths set up on the periphery of the lobby. 4) Undesireables (smokers) hanging out in front of the doors, intimidating passer-bys. 5) Cheap meat in numerous portable stands outside (street meat, food trucks).

Its to the point that I don't want to walk through SS, except that I have to, to get to class. Every time I walk in, I'm besiged by some activist or another... Vote Evolution! Israel is an apartheid state! Visit Portugal! Free the Falun Gong! Freeze Tuition Fees! Big party on Friday, ladies free before 11pm! Join the Communist Party of Canada (no joke)... And if I don't take one of their shitty little papers, they look at me with disdain, "Oh, look at that guy, he's one of the 70% of students who doesn't participate in university affairs." Oh, fuck off. Take your shitty election platform and shove it up your shitty ass.

To make matters worse, they've begun invading the classrooms too. Students will borrow time from profs at the beginning of class to speak about their issues. Activist wannabes will commandeer the overhead projector to display their ads before the prof arrives. I mean, yeah sure, its university, the left-wing capitol of the city, but is a little professionalism too much to ask? I feel like I'm in High School, and the SAC election is like the EHSS SAC election - just superficial bashing and catchy ads, and no real substance.

Ahh, whatever.