The limit

Science has a way of quantifying things to arrive at conclusions objectively. For example, pure water boils at a temperature of 100 degrees centigrade. Thus, it is impure if it is boils under or above this level. When drawing blood to test sugar, 110 mg/dl of blood glucose is generally the upper normal value, and one must stay close to this limit to avoid the dreaded medications. We can all thank research for making it possible for men to know what is going wrong through these numbers.

In everyday setting, these values are a useful tool for companies as well. If an employee calls in sick, then she should see a doctor for a medical certificate The doctor checks the sick employee and notes no fever nor apparent abnormality on physical examination. But the employee complains, "I really am sick". The doctor recommends further tests to disprove her claim. The poor employee smiles. Feeling beaten by the system, she decides not to proceed with it and leaves the clinic. The next day, poor girl has not shown up for work again. Her phone rings incessantly with her manager on the other line. She picks it up then slams it against the wall. She closes her eyes and sleeps.