Last King of Scotland

Finally watched that movie last night. Some thoughts:

1). If you're a naive but idealistic Scotsman with an M.D., it's probably not wise to conduct your first humanitarian practice in the most unstable part of the world. Pick instead the second- or third-most unstable part of the world.

2). If you've neglected suggestion one, and find yourself in something like Amin-era Uganda, stick to your commitments in the poor, outlying area of the country. Do not get swept up by the allure of powerful, charismatic military leaders.

3). If suggestion two accidentally goes unheeded, and you find yourself stuck as the personal physician and adviser to a lunatic dictator, do not sleep with any of his wives.

4). If you've reached number four, you're probably going to die, but you might avoid this by not giving away the fact that the affair occurred. A good way to keep it all on the down low is to not become upset when the pregnant wife is caught and murdered. Another is to not put poison into the dictator's headache medicine (with which you, as his doctor, provide him) and *hope* that nobody notices.

If, by chance, you accidentally violate every suggestion on this list, you frankly deserve your fate. But, as you are just a character in a movie, you can probably count on some sort of deus ex machina to save your life.