When good pitches go bad: Some physicians are avoiding the obligatory apology to patients for fear it could come back to bite them later. However, nine states are considering "I’m sorry" laws, which would prevent physicians’apologies from being used as admission of guilt in malpractice suits. On the other hand, hospitals often times encourage their doctors to apologize to prevent lawsuits, according to <S… redacted>, health care attorney and Partner at law firm <S… redacted> & <P… redacted>. So, what’s the safer bet? <N… redacted> can share the advice he gives to hospitals and physicians, and give legal perspective on the possible effects of these pending state laws. <N… redacted> defends and counsels health care providers including representation in medical [...]

But TOTALLY something I’d write about, if I was a reporter. We are coming up on the season of skinned knees and elbows, and plenty of other cuts, as more and more children and adults take to the outdoors. I am writing a story about scabs. Everyone knows if you get a cut, it will eventually form a scab and fall off to reveal new skin. But what is a scab? How does it form? Why does it form? Why does it itch? And what is a scab doing when it’s doing what it’s doing? Also, why are they so hard to resist picking?

I pitched a story on anti-counterfeiting to the Boston Herald SIX MONTHS AGO. They liked it, all the interviews were conducted, all the background done… Then it sat. And sat. And sat. I’d check in occasionally with the reporter, asking what was up, if anything was new. Just enough to make sure she remembered, not enough to become a bother. Then this past Tuesday, I got the call I wanted: "Peter, that anti-counterfeiting story is running on Friday." YEAH! Happy Friday, indeed!

Anyone catch today’s Profnet about a reporter looking to interview kids who have accidentally found porn while surfing online? That made me laugh, for several reasons. 1) "Accidentally." Enough said. 2) Would you admit to it? If you did, and all your friends read the story… Well, reason #1. 3) The whole request was ironic to me, in a Herbert from Family Guy type of way. Hee. It’s Tuesday. I’m slammed with work. Sorry I’m not more amusing.

It goes without saying that I have a name. I know I do. People call me by it. I react to it when they do. Which is why TWO emails from the same person within an hour, both identical, and both starting off with "Dear     " irk me to no end. Dear Please find the latest release from Samsung camera.  If you need high resolution images, please contact me at j….@randjpr Samsung Unveils the NV11 10 Mega pixel Model is the Fourth in Samsung’s Flagship NV Series January 30, 2007 – Samsung Camera today unveiled the newest addition to its groundbreaking NV series of advanced point & shoot digital cameras – the NV11.  Representing the latest in intelligent camera [...]