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It’s sort of amazing that while the "healer" role has existed for at least as long as human civilization, most of the really significant advances in medicine have occurred in the past two hundred years. Many of the cures we’re going to look at predate the invention of common-sense medical regulations, a few of them are still going strong in defiance of scientific opinion, legislative response, and common damn sense. TREPANNING The expression “when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” was almost literally true for the profession of chirurgeon, a sort of ...
Mother's Day has come and gone, but the lessons moms have bestowed upon their children will keep them on the right path throughout the year. That's what we here at Mandatory think, anyway. Yet, once our editorial staff got together to reminisce about common motherly warnings and words of wisdom, we realized that among the gems, there were an equal amount of duds that don't quite work out or even make sense. But as many of our mothers have told us, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Were they referring to hard drugs and booze? Of course not, but that was our mistake. Anyway, ...
Our friends over at StyleList want to help you out. So, instead of just assuming you know everything a woman desires, why don't you listen to the editors at the premier fashion site on the Web and make sure you are doing the right thing when it comes to the opposite sex? This week: What your car says about you. Do woman really judge us on what car we drive? The easy answer should be no, but after taking a quick poll of the office, it actually does matter to most women. Whether you're driving your grandpa's old pickup or a brand new Mercedes, women will take note. A man's car (clean vs. dirty, old vs. new) is an extension of themselves and can tell us a lot. It's not a deal breaker in ...
Mother's Day is the annual celebration honoring our great caretakers with the reciprocated love and respect they have invested into our lives since the moment we painfully exited their bodies. Despite having the easy options of letting us play in traffic or leaving the hazardous cleaning products in arm's reach, they choose to keep us around and stand by us no matter what. By now, you should be well aware that if you're even a half-decent human being or contribute any good to society, your mother is solely responsible. The rest is just mumbo jumbo you made up along the way that may work for a bit, but will ultimately fall apart, leaving you crying for your mommy. So this year, treat your ...
If you were on Mandatory a few weeks ago, you may have noticed our guide to the 10 Must-Haves for Every Bar. I got this idea after having one of the greatest cocktails I've ever had at a secret, hideaway bar in San Diego called "Noble Experiment." If you're ever in SD, you'll regret not having a nightcap (or three) at this speakeasy. Do a little research before you get there. They only take reservations via text and email. So what was that cocktail I was raving about? It was called "Leaving Tijuana" and it was the perfect blend of spicy and citrusy. (Full disclosure: You have to like spicy cocktails if you're going to like the Leaving Tijuana.) And even better, it's simple to ...
The month of May can really bring things into bloom, whether it’s your freshly planted gardenias or your budding personal life. Expect a few sweet surprises and new beginnings this month. This is not your horoscope; these are the facts, you dingbat. Here are the ten best things about May. No. 10 - May Flowers Like the saying goes, hopefully everybody got their April showers in order to see some flowers this spring. Flowers are single-handedly one of the most incredible things on the planet that serve little purpose except to inspire beauty. If you didn’t get rain, your neighbor is going to ...
