VISTA Archived Blogs

I went off to Anchorage to work for three weeks and to find out what spring was like in Alaska. I had been there twice before in August and September and had seen late summer and early fall and had watched the snowline gradually move down the Chugach Mountains. Yes, break-up is over and spring will be getting going, they assured me. Well…

The last 20-30 minutes of the late afternoon flight into Anchorage were past range on range of rugged snow-covered mountains. There was still lots of snow around on the ground, including those dirty late season heaps piled along the roads and at the edges of parking lots. The woman who let me into my apartment, when I made some comment about it looked like a lot of winter was still around, said, “At least the light is back…”

Tricky question. It’s tough to pin down processing time for a new state medical license because, although the requirements are the same for each applicant, a physician’s unique history and situation impact processing time.

For example, an American medical graduate with no malpractice claims or disciplinary issues, who has practiced in one location for the 10 years since completing training, will take much less time than an American medical graduate with the same length of time in practice, but who worked in five locations and had a significant malpractice settlement.

In what may be a strange tribute to the memory of 911, TSA has launched the 3-1-1 campaign to help travelers adapt to the new restrictions on liquids in carry-on luggage. We thought we’d remind you about it as you prepare for your next locum tenens assignment. Here’s how it goes:

3-ounce bottles or less (by volume)
1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag
1 bag per passenger, to be placed in the screening bin as you approach security.

TSA reports that the one-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. The three-ounce container size is a security measure. Packing all the bottles into one clear, not-likely-to-fly-open bag that can be X-rayed separately will speed screening.