What are you up to this weekend? I am taking it easy after an eventful, yet exhausting week. After falling asleep during a theater production last weekend, I’ve decided that I’d much rather sleep than stand in a concert pit for hours.
A meeting with two world-renowned infectious disease doctors this week has led to the theory that the valley fever infection is no longer active, but that the trauma caused severe mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in oxygen consumption deficits, hypoxia, and a drastically elevated risk of neurodegenerative disease. An alternate theory is that of coccidioidal fungemia–fungus living and actively growing in my bloodstream. Though both would be terrible diagnoses, being an “extreme outlier” means that best-of-the-best are now very eager to work on my case. Ooh, an extra shiny sliver lining!
Hope you have a good one, and here are a few fun links from around the web:
- Quote I’m pondering: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” –Maya Angelou
- Recently, Congressman Kevin McCarthy introduced the bipartisan FORWARD Act, legislation that would strengthen research and help advance treatment and vaccine development for Coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley Fever, as well as other orphan endemic fungal diseases. $10 million would be appropriated for R&D each year 2019 through 2024. Read the full bill here.
- Is Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia worldwide, caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites?
- Bookmarking the Critter Saving Escape Ramp just in case I ever have a pool. Such a sweet and thoughtful invention.
- Busytown 2018: The wholesome burg of Richard Scarry’s children’s books, with a twisted, 21st-century update.
- These stunning sea slugs steal ‘weapons’ from their ingested hydroid prey. Fascinating!
- Teens are protesting in-class presentations because it make them uncomfortable. 🙄 Oh, those poor little snowflakes…
- Though I don’t wear much jewelry, I just bought myself a lovely pair of mini stud earrings so I can still feel feminine if my hair continues falling out.
- The goal: retire in your 30s with $1 million in the bank. The logistics.
- What I’m listening to: First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes. So much joy here!
existential ergonomics 
I’ve heard about the teens protesting presentations, and I think that that is a stupid idea. I used to be very scared of presenting in class to the point where my body would shake with stress. I didn’t complain and eventually became a confident speaker. Kids these days are just too sensitive. Thanks for sharing the article!
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I can completely relate. I’ve always been shy and soft-spoken, so class presentations and even answering simple questions in class was excruciating(!!). But I did it. And thanks to those experiences, I’m moderately well-equipped to lead my team and give presentations at work…. moving through the discomfort gave me leadership and communication skills (and the salary to match). I agree, kids are too sensitive and don’t know how to choose their battles. On-campus violence is something worth stand up to, but class presentations? Really?
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