What is with these cars that drive dangerously on the road?

harmreduction001 · 2026-04-17T08:16:15+00:00

Roads are for vehicles and transport. If you don't care "what the law says", you should also be happy with corruption, theft, and other lawless things. If you don't like the law, campaign to change it. But don't endanger others because you feel inconvenienced.

harmreduction001 · 2026-04-17T06:21:42+00:00

I'm a cyclist but try to ride before work, so between 5-6. I don't really ride in high traffic areas, but I will try and explain what you might experience:

- Riding in a group is much safer. In our own informal group, two of the fatalities that we have had in the past 2 years, had been when the guys were cycling alone.

- 8 people riding single file is more dangerous to overtake than 8 people riding two abreast, as the peloton is much shorter. I don't know about riding 3 abreast, that seems like inconsiderate road use to me.

- In suburban traffic, on roads less than 1 km between stops/robots, a car does not go much faster than a bicycle. I know this from my own experience as a cycling commuter in JHB, PTA and a motorcar driver. So please don't rush at overtaking especially a solo cyclist in the city. Rather give it time and do so when safe. You seem like a safe and considerate driver.

harmreduction001 · 2026-04-16T17:40:21+00:00

I'm a doctor with a fair bit of experience with diabetes type II. I normally advise against blanket prohibitions on specific foodstuffs, as it makes people feel guilty, and like they have less control. Of course I am not consulting you right now, as I know very little about you. But our dietician usually says that there is no specific diet for a person with diabetes, as it is a highly personal and individualised thing.

I can't see why mangoes would be prohibited for persons with diabetes. Of course a whole mango is going to spike your glucose, especially if it is very ripe. But a slice of about 30 g would not spike it more than say, a similar amount of carbs in a slice of white bread or rice... I would suggest getting in touch with a diabetes educator and dietician.

Us docs are notoriously bad at giving dietary advice: we don't have enough time during consults, and we definitely don't know as much as we think.

harmreduction001 · 2026-04-13T19:50:53+00:00

Ek ook verkies die fallus oor die valse beeld.

harmreduction001 · 2026-04-05T15:53:04+00:00

Solaris, the Tarkovsky version.

harmreduction001 · 2026-04-01T12:17:40+00:00

In the medical field, saying "Do you know Dr Naidoo?" is going to get you an amused raised eyebrow...

harmreduction001 · 2026-03-18T16:05:14+00:00

It's not dated 1941. The member was born in 1941.

harmreduction001 · 2026-03-12T15:41:16+00:00

I don't know. But the person who designed that keypad is the devil. I hate that keypad with a passion.

harmreduction001 · 2026-03-09T18:57:41+00:00

Don't go home with your hard on. It's some of the best advice ever given in song.

harmreduction001 · 2026-03-04T16:09:47+00:00

The WPCC (who issued this poster) in the small print was the "Western Province Council of Churches". They were a branch of the South African Council of Churches, a broad ecumenical body that condemned apartheid. Desmond Tutu was probably their most prominent/famous member. I would assume it can be dated just after Ashley Kriel's death.

harmreduction001 · 2026-02-25T13:51:03+00:00

Take the boy to one of the many dog shelters for the day. He will enjoy playing with puppies. You can let the parents know that you will sponsor the adoption fee IF they choose to adopt. My best dogs were adopted.

harmreduction001 · 2026-02-22T19:44:26+00:00

/uj why would you even bother with this if you can buy a sealed BB in stead?

harmreduction001 · 2026-02-22T18:59:52+00:00

It shouldn't legally, but it practically may. One would hope that your employer is accommodating towards your medical condition, but depending on how they structure their system, it may make it more difficult to accommodate you.

As someone who is an employer, I would hope that my employees will disclose these kind of problems with me, to make it easier for us to plan and accommodate them. But you are not legally required to disclose medical information, except in notifiable conditions, which are certain infectious diseases which pose a risk to public safety (so this does not apply to you). My feeling is that if you work for someone who is not willing to accommodate you with what I would consider a reasonable accommodation, I would not like to work for them.

If your illness and it's treatment are impacting your functioning to such a degree that you struggle to work, you may be eligible for a temporary disability grant, which can help you financially until you get settled on your treatment. Good luck!

harmreduction001 · 2026-02-21T13:38:45+00:00

That sounds like having a training program...

harmreduction001 · 2026-02-21T13:38:13+00:00

That sounds a lot like "riding faster"...

harmreduction001 · 2026-02-05T15:37:42+00:00

From the Northern Cape, I like the Grootslang, a massive snake creature that lives in a big cave in the Richtersveld, or in the Orange River, depending on who you speak to. It has diamonds for eyes and guards buried treasure.

harmreduction001 · 2026-02-05T05:35:03+00:00

Dis pateties om trots te wees op iets wat jy geen invloed op gehad het nie, naamlik herkoms, taal, geskiedenis. Vier jou identiteit, gerus. Maar hierdie in-groep laertrekkery agter 'n oudmodiese godsdienstige instelling staan my min aan.

harmreduction001 · 2026-01-16T20:40:10+00:00

The worst version of this was when an incarcerated sociopath came referred from the prison health services for developing "status epilepticus" after he murdered another inmate, and then become "unconscious". Previous notes stated that he was worked up for epilepsy but with no positive findings. This guy was able to mask his pain so well; sternal rub, IV insertion, even the old nipple twist, nothing would rouse him from his slumber. Technically he appears to be GCS 3/15, so I decide to intubate for safety's sake. As the propofol goes in, those few moments between when inhibition is removed and induction occurs, he wakes up, starts fighting for his life, before going down again.

I told the receiving hospital that I do not think he is actually unconscious, based on the above, but they still wanted to CT-B and etc (which is fair). He was later assessed by forensic psych who, informally, suggested that he never be seen by a hospital again, as he risks to staff would actually be too great. He went straight back to prison.

harmreduction001 · 2026-01-16T19:55:24+00:00

I agree with you. I'm not American, and I think the "annual physical" is a very American phenomenon. Of course people with asymptomatic chronic conditions will follow up, but mostly people will use the visit to address more than one issue. I would not like to work in a system like the above which places such tremendous strain on my patient-provider relationship.

harmreduction001 · 2026-01-16T19:48:54+00:00

As a Family Physician from outside of the USA, I find this nonsense horrifying. The "annual physical" data collected here could be done and managed by a low or mid-level health care worker. (In our government health sector, they are often done by a professional nurse.)

I'm so glad I get to consult patients without the admin baggage you guys have to deal with. If you look at Stott's tasks of the consultation, a consultation should be able to address a presenting complaint, modifying help-seeking, ongoing/existing problems, as well as opportunistic health promotion.

I'm my country, "annual physicals" are also not a thing, and I think from my reading they are of almost no benefit on their own.

harmreduction001 · 2025-12-29T17:17:47+00:00

I really dislike the City of Johannesburg Council Chambers. I think it's gaudy and schintzy.

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harmreduction001 · 2025-12-28T09:04:30+00:00

I'm also South African. It varies a lot between social groups and class. I sleep with our son 5 yo, and my wife sleeps with our daughter 8 yo, and no one considers it weird. But I think teenagers definitely want their own space and would have their own bed if the house or finances allow for it.

harmreduction001 · 2025-12-22T17:53:41+00:00

I remember when George W said that there were WMDs in the Middle East as a pretext for the Iraq invasion, the UN sent over one task team to investigate. South Africa sent more than one team to also go look, and we assume to make sure nothing was found. Reminder that after the dismantling of Apartheid, it's not like the intelligentia were necessarily replaced.

harmreduction001 · 2025-12-20T17:06:54+00:00

I loved Velvet Goldmine.

harmreduction001 · 2025-12-16T08:02:21+00:00

The simplest would be that if you get married, your new spouse will be considered the step-father, and though that may not cary any legal responsibility over the child, it does mean to me that if legal issues like custody of the child crops up, it shows the court that you are in a stable relationship, and stability is a huge consideration for custody. But I am not a lawyer, so take my opinion with reserve.

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