Bend over and count to one

Today I go down to the VA hospital  and spend an hour or two giving blood and taking various medical tests.  This is for a broad voluntary survey, the "Million Veterans Program" – a database of every soldier's physical condition recorded along with details of his wartime experience and subsequent life.  Huge database for medical theorists to work with.  I'm all for it, but have obvious knee-jerk reservations.Your identity is supposedly protected, but I guess a determined hacker might track you down.  I suspect that people who once had diseases related to behavior, like AIDS, syphilis, drug abuse, etc. will be underrepresented in the survey because of veterans' natural caution and cynicism about the government.  A pity, since those conditions are important factors in treating those of us who are becoming geriatric.  Supposed to be by-the-numbers efficient -- my appointment is for precisely 11:40 -- but I think I'll take along an interesting book, just in case.Joe