The world did not end on Saturday May 21. I repeat, the world did not end.

I am sure there were plenty who gave up most of their worldly possessions with the end of the world rapidly approaching. That would have made this past Monday a really rough start to the week. Time to get back to work and make a buck or two, I suppose. Everyone needs a little cash to get by until the “next” end of the world, currently scheduled for December 21 or something like that. Does that mean I won’t have to do any Christmas shopping this year?

In the meantime, the sporting world kept right on rolling, No-pocalyspe or otherwise. And as always, there has been more rhubarb than you could shake a syringe at. A syringe, you ask? Let’s get started on the next episode …

1. Was Sunday May 22nd the beginning of the end for Lance Armstrong?

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One patient. One clinician. One treatment room.

It should be pretty straightforward, right? Ask the right questions, get the appropriate answers, make some astute observations, add a little clinical reasoning, and get the patient moving towards a solution to their problem.

But once the patient and clinician step into that treatment room, worlds collide. It starts with what is going on in our heads before we ask or answer any questions. When two diverse self images collide in the treatment room, anything can happen, and oftentimes it does.

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Thursday’s landmark decision by the Supreme Court regarding the Affordable Care Act became not only an important day in this country’s health care history, but also a blockbuster day for political diatribe, fear-mongering, irresponsibility, and downright stupidity.

When the real data emerges, and it will, we will look to this day much like the days when Medicare and Social Security were introduced. But I understand that anytime people are faced with something new, it can generate a little fear of the unknown.

It has become readily apparent to me that legislators have chosen, repeatedly, to ignore the data and the evidence. They have chosen to disregard responsibility, especially in their words to constituents. They have chosen to ignore their accountability to voters.

But they have not forgotten how to spin, spin, spin the agenda. They have chosen to listen to the doctors – the spin doctors – the “spinions” who have not forgotten how to create fear and uncertainty in the eyes of the average American.

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I could be completely wrong. Maybe this time is for real.

May 21 is predicted to be the end of the world. Christians tell us that Judgment Day is upon us.

Wow. Is that a buzz kill for a Saturday or what? Exactly what time should I put on my Outlook calendar? I do not want to be late. And I guess that means that I should cancel all upcoming appointments?

Let’s not forget that Judgment Day has come and gone a number of times before. Wasn’t there something written about a boy that cried wolf? Or am I just being a tad cynical?

It is all this focus on the negative that disturbs me. Over and over, we’ve been presented with countless potential “endings”. But somehow, through all of them, the world just keeps on spinning and people keep on waking up and drinking their Starbucks and heading off to work and coming home from work and dying of natural (and not-so-natural) causes. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Or - it could all end on May 21. Either way, let’s make a deal. I have a proposal.

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