My Super Power

I was thinking of revising a little cardiology today when i glanced upon a really old book i flew over from Singapore earlier this year: How to Develop a SUPER-POWER MEMORY by Harry Lorayne (1957).

*Sheesh, this book is as old as my parents!*

Since i had some leisurely time on my hands (time that should have been spent reading textbooks or writing my Case Commentary or my CV)... why not?

In fact, i'm desperately in need of memory aids. Ever since i signed up for self-inflicted torture with the School of Medicine 5 years ago, my memory has been failing me.

So upon reading this book, i realised that:

1. I can't remember anything that i don't understand or haven't observed

2. I can't remember anything that i don't want to remember. (Well now, i must have been doing very well then, because most of the time i'm bored out of my mind with the things i'm reading... How can i remember things when i've a psychological block against it?)

3. I belong to the subtype of people who remember things quickly but just as quickly forget it. (Hence, my excuse for last minute cramming...)

4. I'm actually a pretty good rote learner. *Embarrased*

So i got MOAO to test me to remember 20 items of anything. And you know what are some of the words he chose?

1. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

2. Hepaticocholangiocholecystenterostomies

3. Formaldehydetetramethylamidofluorimum

4. Asseocarnisanguineoviscericartilaginonervomedullary

5. Honorificabilitudinitatibus

*Only the 5 most bombastic words listed*

Can somebody tell me who in the world uses these words?

I guess the first one is a pulmonary fibrosing kind of disease, the second is a surgical procedure involving liver, bile duct and gall bladder, the 3rd is just a chemical name. Lost me after #4.

So i got 15 out of 20 right. I guess my memory hasn't reached super power status, but i'm on my way eh?