moving

officially moving to wordpress for no reason other than i like it better. and sometimes, something new is a source of inspiration. just like when you get a new camera, maybe you spend a lot more time taking pictures. or maybe a new guitar and you play it every day for hours because it's new.

but this thing shall stay here; maybe i'll post random things here every now and then, but you can see a list of my recent blogger posts from my wordpress anyways.

i think between wordpress, blogger, and xanga, the last 7 years of my life is electronic public record...that's a scary thought.

so find me at mikemeng.wordpress.com.

cheerio.

change for the sake of change?

might migrate to wordpress. what do you think?

whoa

whoa... [linky]

bored.

3.5 weeks to usmle step 1.

need a break from studying...!

some pictures.

out my window...earlier in april:

and after some late afternoon storms on monday:

almost 1/2 way done w/ medical school...

still a ways to go

"So when you don't understand / When you don't see His plan / When you can't trace His hand / Trust His heart."

a long way to go

personal responsibility?

a break from studying path...

another msnbc article, another odd headline - at least to me.

gut flora research for chron's, sure. but i don't think we Americans need another excuse to be lazy. I think there is still no replacement for diet and exercise, even if the research shows gut flora has something to do with increased appetite and obesity. just because you're hungry doesn't necessarily mean you have to eat, right?

spring break is so close.

c'est la vie

don't think there's really much to say about that...

anyways, back to studying...1 exam down, 3 more to go before spring break w/ the mama and papa.

is this really the doctors' fault?

a report today claims hypertension to be a "neglected disease" by both doctors and the government.

here's one solution from the article: "This is not rocket science, the report makes clear: Cut the salt. Eat more potassium. Get some exercise. Drop 10 pounds. Those steps could make a big difference in how many people suffer high blood pressure — 73 million at last count."

granted, that's just a snippet from the article, but my feeling is that most of the things the article suggests should happen are more the responsibility of the people themselves and not necessarily the doctors and the government. And yes, there are things doctors and the government can do better, from better follow-up and management to helping make a healthier food supply and better food options, especially for low-income populations.

But i feel this is mostly just another example of how we like to blame other people for our problems instead of realizing our own responsibility. Or maybe it's just a really misleading headline - maybe it's the general population that does not take it seriously and actually follow through on diet, exercise, and whatnot.

what's the weather?

sun? rain? ice? snow? all the above?

just as funny...

Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 - price: $38,000 (new)

2010 Infiniti G37 Coupe - price: starting at $36,050 (new)

hehehehehe.

sorry, i just found this really funny...

Canon 800mm f/5.6 IS USM - price: $11,999 (new)

2010 Kia Rio - price: $11,695 (new)

actually, kind of ridiculous.

that is all.

illuminate

exams in one week - some studying, lots of trying to study. my study table:


"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." -Galatians 2:20

I still often feel driven by the things, emotions, and values of this world. How my life would be different to have one singular purpose and passion to know Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). I still see the world the way the world wants me to see, yet I know there is another light by which all things are seen in reality, in the light of what Christ has already done for me.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace."

something every now and then

went to the camera store today - apparently the high-pitch whine is in all the in-store models they had, too, including the leica variant. so it's here to stay - i can live with it...but will little kids and puppies cover their ears and run away?

my goal: take a picture to post here every now and then about...something.

today, my apartment - it's old, probably out of the 1950s. i live on the 11th floor; everything is old, from the appliances, to the counter-tops, to the heater, to the window blinds.

i must admit, today was not one of my better days.

how are you doin?

there was a man with one leg, sitting in a wheelchair sitting outside, kitty-corner (that must be a midwesterner's word...) from the national city bank branch downtown. mind you, it's not quite 20 degrees outside, and who knows what the windchill is - i am shivering in my hoodie, northface fleece and gloves. i can hear the individual coins rattling in the cup he's shaking. i notice he's lifting himself up several steps to get into a food/marketplace area that is warm. then he looks at me.

all i can muster up is, "how are you doin?"

he sighs. "oh, hanging in there. that's all you can do."

i give my straight face and nod, then cross the street.

never saw him again. probably won't ever see him again.

seriously? "how are you doin?" is that it? is that all i can do? is that all i really did?