#mdf instruments

[iambic-stan]

last book + last stethoscope, part 53

Wow. Not since Sabrina Imbler's How Far the Light Reaches back in 2023 has someone made me so happy to be a queer nature lover. About the scope--this is a white/rose gold MDF stainless steel cardiology scope. It's the first I've bought of the stainless steel variety rather than the titanium from this brand. I'm not sure how I would feel if I used this somewhat heavy instrument daily for my job, but as a cardiophile I do love a nice, heavy chest piece. Feels and sounds better, though it's hard to say how much of that assessment of mine is just psychological. There's definitely something about a white stethoscope, and I've daydreamed about them since I was a small child. I've been keeping this one handy since I bought it because there is something really comforting about this color combo. Some people have plushies or action figures--I have stethoscopes. (Ok--tbh I have all three).

But about Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian's memoir--it's perfect, it's divine, and my only gripe is that it's too short at 255 pages. Kaishian, a mycologist, talks about her struggles to fit in as queer, neurodivergent child with unique special interests and how she found refuge in the swamps and forests near her home. (My ignorance is gonna show here, because I had no idea there were swamps in New York until I read this book). Growing up and immersing herself in the sciences, she learned about the queerness of many creatures (fungi included), and how scientific research has traditionally held very hetero- and cisnormative views that negatively affected outcomes and contrasts glaringly with overwhelming evidence of queerness in nature. I got to learn about sit spots--a form of meditation that seems much more accessible in my view than many others because I'm lousy at relaxing. Loved the sections about cicadas and their uncanny understanding of time, empathetic crows, and magnetized eels. Also all of the sociological and ecological revelations...it really is quite a lot from such a short read. It's also not overly scientific even though it is science-based, so that was easy enough for me to stomach with my humanities background.

[studydiaryofamedstudent]

Reading some notes and revicing some things before I went to work the other day. Good thing to read up on geriatrics (elderly people) when you are working at a hospital. Thats one patient group you will always meet!

[heartofaworshiper]

So in love with my new white and rose gold stethoscope!!

[iambic-stan]

last book + last stethoscope, part 54

Covid lockdown is over, it's time for fourteen-year-old A to go back to school, and he's eager to explain to his parents and everyone he knows that he's always been a boy in Kyle Lukoff's inspirational fantasy, A World Worth Saving (shown here with MDF's starry night capridium titanium scope). Despite the fact that his parents are self-professed progressive liberals, they don't take it so well when he comes out to them. When the rabbi at their synagogue is accepting and wants to celebrate A's identity, his parents decide it's time to stop attending services, and they find a different sort of religious congregation in a group called SOSAD (Save our Sons and Daughters). What they don't realize is that this support group intent on "curing" trans children is actually run by a demon who feeds off the angst, sorrow, and anguish of the families attending the meetings. A, along with other kids he meets at SOSAD meetings, wind up on an unlikely adventure that is both fantastical and unfortunately realistic in our current climate, but it's hopeful. In my view, it's dark for a middle-grade novel, but this is very much the world adults have created for trans youth, so they're living it already.

[iambic-stan]

I got nowhere else to carry on about this, so

MDF Instruments now has this violet chest piece for the procardial titanium scope, but the only tubing you can pair it with is this...cougar print one for some reason? Which I not only don't like, but don't feel matches idk. But, anyway, I'm excited about this violet color and look forward to eventually seeing some pretty tubing!

It's so...bright that I'm not sure what tubing would work with it. A sort of marbled purple that's pale enough that the binaurals and chest piece stand out, but it's complementary? Or maybe a solid color, like some kind of off-white or yellow? Idk. Anyway, this, for me, is like when normal women look for clothes and makeup lol

[iambic-stan]

a post about stethoscope colors

Does anyone have specific feelings about stethoscope colors that go beyond just thinking a color looks nice? Do you associate certain colors with particular scenarios, for example?

I was talking to non-cardiophile friends about this, as I often do, and they both pointed out that they've never seen a doctor with a white stethoscope. One said that a white stethoscope seems difficult to take seriously, and the other said it gives the impression of cleanliness.

When I was young, I used to spend a lot of time imagining someone listening to me with a white stethoscope. I really don't know why. It felt reassuring but I can't say why that color elicited that reaction from me. Anyhow, I don't have a white stethoscope but I find these examples interesting.

MDF Procardial Stainless Steel Cardiology scope in white/whiteout

Littmann Cardiolgy IV in alabaster and black

[iambic-stan]

One of the greatest joys when almost nothing else feels right--stethoscopes! And...the one I ordered on a whim in the middle of the night when I was feeling bad. Doesn't matter how he got here--he's beautiful!!

Best MDF yet. The tubing is more flexible on this one--is that how they're making them now? My first one was a bit stiff. I think this one is prettier than he looked online. Sounds lovely, too. (link)

[iambic-stan]

last book read + last stethoscope used, part 22

First book and scope pairing of 2024!

The scope is MDF's Procardial Titanium in green and gold (there's a glitter option for the green but I opted out to save some $ and enjoy a smoother finish on that tubing). The book is John Scalzi's short sci-fi read from last year, Starter Villain. Yes--go ahead and judge a book by its cover...unless you don't like cats, in which case you can keep opinions like that to yourself. These cats can type 80 wpm, btw. Also, there are unionizing dolphins and...underwhelming lava pits. I'd never read anything by this guy before but it was giving Douglas Adams at times and I loved it for that. Nothing deep here, but just enough twists and turns and laughs to make it fun as hell. It was a great read to start out the year.