It’s no great revelation that my all-time favorite comic strip is Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson. I’d be willing to bet that a quick poll of U.S.-based Gen-X’ers would show C&H as the favorite for a large percentage of my generation. (note from Scott: I’ll go Family Circus, but I’m not really a comic strip guy)

My old C&H anthologies were happily passed down to my kids, and they still have a place of prominence on my son’s bookshelf.

Taking it one step farther, this is my absolute favorite C&H moment:

That last line — “From now on, I’ll connect the dots my own way” — has resonated with me in a way that few things have. It would be silly to call it my life philosophy, but, it’s kind of my life philosophy. I’ll put it this way — there wouldn’t be a CMEpalooza if I hadn’t decided that from now on, I’ll connect the dots my own way.

Fortunately, Scott also views life through a similar scope. (note from Scott: Some look at the glass and say it’s half full. Some look at the glass and say it’s half empty. I look at it and say, “Somewhere, there has to be another glass”). When Eric from Talem Health approached us about sponsoring a CMEpalooza virtual 5K run, we both agreed we would rather do something a little different. Thus birthed the CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge.

In honor of continuing to connect the dots our own way, we are proud to announce the fourth iteration of the CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge starting today! What is the CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge, you ask? Allow me to explain.

• The challenge begins today (April 15) and will go until the end of the day on Sunday (April 21)
• The challenge is to record at least 10,000 steps in one day. For each day during the challenge period that you record 10,000 steps, please send in a screenshot of your step-counting device with the number of recorded steps, either by email (thecmeguy@gmail.com) or text (267-666-0CME [0263]). Please include the following information:
  • Screenshot of number of steps
  • Date of steps
  • Name
  • Email
  • Physical mailing address
• For each day you achieve 10,000 steps and send in a screenshot, you will be entered into a random drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card (there are five gift cards; you cannot win more than one.) Winners will be drawn during the week of CMEpalooza Spring. You can send in each day individually or you can send them all in at once at the end. It doesn’t matter to me.
• The person who records and submits the most steps in one day wins a $250 Amazon gift card. Last fall, I implemented The Jamro Rule in honor of two-time CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge winner Amanda Jamrogiewicz. This time, I am updating the name to The Jamro & Riaz Rule, which states that the winners of the two previous Challenges are ineligible to win the grand prize this spring. That gives the rest of you a chance to win (no offense, but both of them beat y’all by a lot the past two times. I mean, a lot.)
• Everyone who enters even one day will receive some CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge merch from Talem Health. We’re still finalizing what it will be.

Thanks everyone and good luck!

CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge sponsored by:

Thanks for coming, please find your seat. Before our main feature (which is on April 24 — you’re a bit early), here are a few coming attractions we thought you might enjoy. Thank you.

[HOUSE LIGHTS DIM]

[PROJECTOR STARTS]

[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]

In a world full of boring and lame promotional events, one man stands alone in his quest to bring entertainment and fun to the masses.

From the strange mind of Scott Kober comes the latest CMEpalooza sponsor event…

CMEPALOOZA GETS CHOPPED!!!

Coming April 8. Prepare now. There will be prizes.

[FOREBODING MUSIC FADES]

[JAUNTY MUSIC BEGINS]

Let’s all go to the lobby.
Let’s all go to the lobby.
Let’s all go to the lobby.
And get ourselves a treat!

[JAUNTY MUSIC FADES]

[DREAMS BY FLEETWOOD MAC PLAYS]

Winter is over, spring is here, and summer is coming. You know what that means don’t you?

[RECORD SCRATCH. MUSIC STOPS]

IT’S ALMOST BATHING SUIT SEASON!!!

[BLOODCURDLING SCREAM]

[IT KEEPS YOU RUNNING BY THE DOOBIE BROTHERS PLAYS]

From the creator of CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge I, II, and III — just in time to whip you into shape for the summer season — CMEpalooza presents…

CMEPALOOZA STEPTACULAR CHALLENGE IV!!!

The CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge is coming April 15. More details to follow.

[VERY FAST NARRATOR VOICE]

CMEpaloozaisnotresponsibleforanyinjuriessustainedduringtheCMEpaloozaSTEPtacularChallenge. AllCMEpaloozaSTEPtacularChallengessponsoredbyTalemHealth.

[MUSIC FADES]

[FADE TO BLACK]

Despite boldly announcing at the beginning of today’s interview with Wendy Turell, Associate Director, Global Medical Affairs Oncology, Scientific Engagement at Daiichi Sankyo, that this was the last in our “10 Years in 10 Minutes” series, I later realized that it is actually, in fact, not the last one. It is the fifth of six, the last of which will be on Wednesday. Those of you who have been following along closely might remember that I also made a mistake at the beginning of my interview with Brian McGowan a couple weeks ago. The lesson here is that I should probably refrain from talking during these interviews and limit myself to hand gestures and nodding along.

Nevertheless, I was thrilled to have a few minutes to talk with Wendy about her presentation at the inaugural CMEpalooza on Qualitative Research and CEHP. Wendy and co-presenter Alex Howson from Write Medicine were the first “panel” presentation at CMEpalooza (can two people make a panel? Let’s say yes), the success of which helped show some of the possibilities of the Google Hangouts On-Air format. At the same time, Wendy was the first presenter who suffered serious technical issues, to the point that I thought Alex might have to do the presentation on her own, and helped show some of the challenges with the format (side note: if you watch the original presentation, you can see Wendy make a sudden dramatic appearance on screen, tech issues resolved, popping on just as I begin the introductions. High stakes drama!)

Wendy and I discuss all of these things, plus her thoughts on the value of qualitative research in CME today, why we are still fighting the same battles 10 years later, and even a tip for a fun family vacation spot. All that in a neat 10 minutes.