Greetings!
I am a 49 year old biomedical engineer (with a BA in English as well) currently living in Central Florida but in the midst of moving to Middle Georgia. I was a member of the SBC for the first 15 years or so of my life, but gradually fell away from theism when I was unable to reconcile my Judeo/Christian beliefs with my increasingly scientific worldview.
I class myself a "soft" atheist since I am only about 99.9% sure that nothing supernatural exists. To put that into perspective, I am only about 99.9% sure that the sun will "rise" tomorrow morning.
I have been a contributing member of atheist.net for several years, but sadly the site has become increasingly inactive of late. I am looking foward to reading the posts here and say thanks for inviting me to join the HAF forum!
Hi and welcome.
Welcome to HAF!
Hi there! Welcome to the forum!
Hello and welcome to HAF,
Non Quixote. Are you going to miss Florida? I've only spent a short time there, but aside from the Miami area, it seemed pleasant enough.
Here are the —
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Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 03:39:28 PM
Greetings!
I am a 49 year old biomedical engineer (with a BA in English as well) currently living in Central Florida but in the midst of moving to Middle Georgia. I was a member of the SBC for the first 15 years or so of my life, but gradually fell away from theism when I was unable to reconcile my Judeo/Christian beliefs with my increasingly scientific worldview.
I class myself a "soft" atheist since I am only about 99.9% sure that nothing supernatural exists. To put that into perspective, I am only about 99.9% sure that the sun will "rise" tomorrow morning.
I have been a contributing member of atheist.net for several years, but sadly the site has become increasingly inactive of late. I am looking foward to reading the posts here and say thanks for inviting me to join the HAF forum!
Excellent screen name. I share your graduate qualification in English and defection to another discipline thereafter and also soft, though not very soft, atheism in general , but count myself as a hard atheist in relation to Christianity. I have found this a highly enjoyable and lively forum in between being banned.
Quote from: En_Route on July 18, 2012, 04:37:44 PM
I have found this a highly enjoyable and lively forum in between being banned.
*Snort*
Hi and welcome Non Quixote! Hope you enjoy it here, and looking forward to getting to know you. :D
Quote from: Recusant on July 18, 2012, 04:26:53 PM
Hello and welcome to HAF, Non Quixote. Are you going to miss Florida? I've only spent a short time there, but aside from the Miami area, it seemed pleasant enough.
I am a Florida native and yes, I'm sure I will miss my home here. My current home is on a large lake in Central Florida that connects ultimately to the Atlantic Ocean (although it would be a helluva trek) and I hate to let it go.
My wife is still military and has been stationed at Robins AFB in GA. Apparently I am expected to move there as well if I want to remain married. :D
The townhouse that I purchased in Warner Robins is on a 50 acre lake (duck pond really), but it's landlocked and my really big pontoon boat would look a little silly puttering around in it I think.
It's not forever though and I look forward to retiring to north Florida.
Ooh! Biomed! Sweet. :D
Welcome.
Quote from: Asmodean on July 18, 2012, 05:13:47 PM
Ooh! Biomed! Sweet. :D
Welcome.
Yeah, but don't tell my mom.
She thinks that I'm a piano player in a whorehouse.
Welcome, NQ! Sounds like you'll fit in here.
Hi NQ
What did you do in the military?
Welcome to HAF ;D
Regards
Chris
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 06:26:24 PM
Hi NQ
What did you do in the military?
Welcome to HAF ;D
Regards
Chris
Thanks for all of the welcomes everyone!
I was a Storekeeper in the Navy, and a 4A-2 (Biomed) in the USAFR.
(Navy was more fun)
Non Quixote, welcome!! :) Glad to meet you!
Here, have a pin for your shirt :D :
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frlv.zcache.com%2Feverydays_an_adventure_biomedical_engineer_button-p145254052727888523en872_210.jpg&hash=028082677a5895c1b7d680742d0f618d86eb58be)
Quote from: Amicale on July 18, 2012, 07:34:56 PM
Non Quixote, welcome!! :) Glad to meet you!
Here, have a pin for your shirt :D :
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frlv.zcache.com%2Feverydays_an_adventure_biomedical_engineer_button-p145254052727888523en872_210.jpg&hash=028082677a5895c1b7d680742d0f618d86eb58be)
Oh man, is it ever.
Yeah, I started to type out a list of some of the adventures, but stopped when I realized how disgusting they were...lol.
I may regret asking this but, what is a biomedical engineer?
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 07:55:38 PM
I may regret asking this but, what is a biomedical engineer?
lol...not at all.
Biomedical engineers work with medical devices. Design, maintenance, repair, trials, etc.
Anything from a little suction pump up to MRI machines, although major equipment like that is highly specialized.
edit: The job I just left (to pack up and move) was in a birthing hospital. To give you some idea I had about 1700 pieces of equipment that I was responsible for.
I was also the sole biomed responsible for maintaining one of the largest OB TraceVue systems in the world. Basically a large network of monitoring devices that record mother and baby vitals. My system has 115 fetal monitors attached to several clients which are in turn connected to a couple of large servers and an optical platter jukebox (stone age) for final recording. All of this is spread out over 3 floors and connected on a virtual network that rides on the IS network. When that system hiccups every anus in the hospital hierarchy clenches. I have made several late night/early morning trips to the hospital because someone somewhere thought that maybe there was a slight chance that OB TraceVue wasn't recording properly.
Love it. Wouldn't want to do anything else.
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:03:23 PM
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 07:55:38 PM
I may regret asking this but, what is a biomedical engineer?
lol...not at all.
Biomedical engineers work with medical devices. Design, maintenance, repair, trials, etc.
Anything from a little suction pump up to MRI machines, although major equipment like that is highly specialized.
We'd call them a medical technician in the UK.
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 08:09:45 PM
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:03:23 PM
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 07:55:38 PM
I may regret asking this but, what is a biomedical engineer?
lol...not at all.
Biomedical engineers work with medical devices. Design, maintenance, repair, trials, etc.
Anything from a little suction pump up to MRI machines, although major equipment like that is highly specialized.
We'd call them a medical technician in the UK.
Really? Med techs in the US are the people who clean up poop and other fun stuff.
Well, that isn't quite fair, they take vitals and things too I think. Like BP and temp.
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:17:52 PM
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 08:09:45 PM
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:03:23 PM
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 07:55:38 PM
I may regret asking this but, what is a biomedical engineer?
lol...not at all.
Biomedical engineers work with medical devices. Design, maintenance, repair, trials, etc.
Anything from a little suction pump up to MRI machines, although major equipment like that is highly specialized.
We'd call them a medical technician in the UK.
Really? Med techs in the US are the people who clean up poop and other fun stuff.
Well, that isn't quite fair, they take vitals and things too I think. Like BP and temp.
Best not get them confused then! :D
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 08:19:54 PM
Best not get them confused then! :D
Yup! I think they are probably qualified to clean gook off the equipment...lol.
Biomedical Engineering graduate degrees here run up to PhD level.
Dunno about the UK
edit: Ah, quick Google reveals that you folks call us medical technologists
Welcome!
How well I remember my Navy days. Remember its not just a job its an adventure. Translation 99% boredom 1% stark terror. Welcome. And by the way moving frequently is just one of the perks of Air Force life. Just so you know.
Quote from: markmcdaniel on July 18, 2012, 09:41:07 PM
How well I remember my Navy days. Remember its not just a job its an adventure. Translation 99% boredom 1% stark terror. Welcome. And by the way moving frequently is just one of the perks of Air Force life. Just so you know.
Could you start a thread about the 1% stark terror please! ;D
Quote from: markmcdaniel on July 18, 2012, 09:41:07 PM
How well I remember my Navy days. Remember its not just a job its an adventure. Translation 99% boredom 1% stark terror. Welcome. And by the way moving frequently is just one of the perks of Air Force life. Just so you know.
Hi, and thanks!
This is her 28th year in, so we're used to the moving around part.
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:03:23 PM
edit: The job I just left (to pack up and move) was in a birthing hospital. To give you some idea I had about 1700 pieces of equipment that I was responsible for.
Yes, you see, on the first day, The Asmo created time, space, nine other dimensions, hell and, as an afterthought, that place.
What did you do to deserve being surrounded by such an armada of uncooked babies? :o
Nice to have you here. Been enjoying your posts thus far.
Quote from: Asmodean on July 18, 2012, 11:57:49 PM
Yes, you see, on the first day, The Asmo created time, space, nine other dimensions, hell and, as an afterthought, that place.
What did you do to deserve being surrounded by such an armada of uncooked babies? :o
Heh. Actually the departments came open and I dogged my supervisor's heels until he agreed to give me the departments. I really wasn't interested in the "uncooked babies" (although a walk through the NICU can break your heart), I was
really interested in the massive OB TraceVue system that was already partially mine. A huge blend of network hardware, PCs and biomedical equipment, every bionerd's wet dream.
But yeah, working in the nurseries with gaggles of crying babies could be...um...challenging.
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 19, 2012, 09:29:19 PM
(although a walk through the NICU can break your heart)
I highly doubt it would have enough impact to even slightly crack mine. Babies, you see, are on my despised-list, and my compassion towards them is limited thereafter.
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:17:52 PM
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 08:09:45 PM
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:03:23 PM
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 07:55:38 PM
I may regret asking this but, what is a biomedical engineer?
lol...not at all.
Biomedical engineers work with medical devices. Design, maintenance, repair, trials, etc.
Anything from a little suction pump up to MRI machines, although major equipment like that is highly specialized.
We'd call them a medical technician in the UK.
Really? Med techs in the US are the people who clean up poop and other fun stuff.
Well, that isn't quite fair, they take vitals and things too I think. Like BP and temp.
Wouldn't those tasks be for nurses?
Quote from: Stevil on July 19, 2012, 10:48:52 PM
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:17:52 PM
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 08:09:45 PM
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 18, 2012, 08:03:23 PM
Quote from: Tank on July 18, 2012, 07:55:38 PM
I may regret asking this but, what is a biomedical engineer?
lol...not at all.
Biomedical engineers work with medical devices. Design, maintenance, repair, trials, etc.
Anything from a little suction pump up to MRI machines, although major equipment like that is highly specialized.
We'd call them a medical technician in the UK.
Really? Med techs in the US are the people who clean up poop and other fun stuff.
Well, that isn't quite fair, they take vitals and things too I think. Like BP and temp.
Wouldn't those tasks be for nurses?
Taking vitals or cleaning up vomit and poop?
Nurses do take vitals, but qualified med techs can also be assigned to things like taking BP and temperature as I said. Mostly the techs clean the rooms and the patients.
Quote from: Asmodean on July 19, 2012, 10:45:19 PM
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 19, 2012, 09:29:19 PM
(although a walk through the NICU can break your heart)
I highly doubt it would have enough impact to even slightly crack mine. Babies, you see, are on my despised-list, and my compassion towards them is limited thereafter.
I don't know, I think you would have to experience it to be able to decide. Watching a tiny child in an incubator battle for their lives, and knowing that you can't do any more to help them would touch anyone with even a smidge of emotion at least a little I would think. Especially the ones that are circling the drain, gasping out their last breaths while you're watching their vitals tank. I honestly don't know how the NICU nurses do it day in and day out without jumping off the roof or drinking a gallon of Vodka.
By the way, I hate babies too.
Hmmm...that isn't right. I hate being around them. I don't wish them harm, I just don't want them anywhere near me.
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 19, 2012, 11:58:00 PM
I don't know, I think you would have to experience it to be able to decide.
Probably. However, I think I know me well enough to estimate such matters.
QuoteWatching a tiny child in an incubator battle for their lives, and knowing that you can't do any more to help them would touch anyone with even a smidge of emotion at least a little I would think.
Me, I'm not sure I would WANT to help. I don't instantly (Or at all, really) bond with babies, like some people seem to, nor do I find them cute, adorable, nice or anything else other than noisy and potentially smelly, really.
QuoteEspecially the ones that are circling the drain, gasping out their last breaths while you're watching their vitals tank. I honestly don't know how the NICU nurses do it day in and day out without jumping off the roof or drinking a gallon of Vodka.
Maybe they are like me, although if that be the case, why work in neonatology at all..? Maybe they let it out somehow. Maybe they grow cold and stop caring with experience. I don't know... Would make for an interesting survey, I think.
QuoteHmmm...that isn't right. I hate being around them. I don't wish them harm, I just don't want them anywhere near me.
Well, I only take it one step further, really: I'm no more fazed by sick or injured kids than by sick or injured strangers. I may help when it is expected (Like in motor vehicle collisions or near-drownings), even go do-or-die if required, but not out of love for my fellow man.
Fair enough Asmodean.
Quote from: Non Quixote on July 19, 2012, 11:46:01 PM
...cleaning up vomit and poop?
Well, that's what I do for my cat, at any rate... (Why do I get the feeling that she is snickering as I type?)
You sound very well educated and very interesting!