Isaac Newton - physicist, mathematician, and arguably the greatest scientist the world has known. If you've taken high school science, you've been exposed to the ways of Newton. And if you look back to yesteryear, and revisit those golden memories of pendulums, bunsen burners, and trajectories, you're sure to unearth a thought or two on Newton's Laws of Motion.

Math and science got me through high school. Though I love the process of writing now, in those days writing was something to be done only because it had to be done. It was about writing book reports, or comparing and contrasting protagonists in Shakespeare's plays. No wonder I didn't enjoy putting pen to paper! Math and science - my bread and butter. My meal ticket - or so I thought. At one time, I was going to become a mechanical engineer ... which evolved into an automotive designer ... which then turned into physical therapist (and yes, there are some common threads throughout - best left to another digression here!). But suffice it to say, I was comfortable with Newton's ideas - back in the day.

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There seems to be a growing aversion to the medical system in recent times. Why are people so hesitant and apprehensive about accessing medical care for anything other than chronic or life-threatening conditions? I certainly see it regularly when interacting with active people. Why is this so?

I am not sure I have that answer completely - but let me propose a few potential reasons.

Just like any other enterprise, there needs to be a value added benefit to going to a clinician for care. The "customer experience" starts from the moment they contact the office. You're on hold waiting for the next customer service representative. A frustrating start, for sure. Let's say you get lucky - and don't have to wait to schedule an appointment. Is the provider of your choice on your insurance plan? Or will this be an (oftentimes exhorbitant and inflated) out-of-pocket expense? Now I have to balance the potential cost-to-benefit ratio of the experience.

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First of all, let's start with the obvious: Happy Birthday, United States of America!

July 4th ... a day of celebration of the nation's birthday. A day for ... time off from work, beer drinking, grilling out, fireworks ... what more can you ask for, right?

The Canadian in me would like to remind everyone out there that your neighbor to the North - your number one trading partner and world's longest undefended border-mate - just had a birthday as well.

It was on July 1. Yes, we know you missed it, but a belated birthday card would have sufficed.

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The Ivory Tower of Academia. If you've been involved with the educational system in any way, shape, or form, you've at least seen it off in the distance. Perhaps you've occupied it's courtyard, or maybe even resided inside it's walls. 

The Ivory Tower - is tarnished.

Last time I looked, academia and education were about teaching and learning. There is plenty of good research literature to indicate that adults learn primarily by interaction, by doing, by being actively involved in their own learning process. In effect, it is much the same way that children learn most effectively. As Bob Pike would say, adults are just babies with big bodies.

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