The FORD Lounge

[Dorsai]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

So, the scientists you know are completely incompetent, and more challenged than somebody with Down's?

Er, no...but that's not the claim I was making.  'Book smart, not street smart' is closer to the mark.

I'm well aware of the 'book smart, is not street smart' type.
I have to deal with them every day.
And it's incredibly frustrating.
Even when well intentioned, they should just get out of the way and let the grown ups handle things.

There are no (or very few) 'grown ups' available, that's the problem.

Example: There was an opening on my wife's team last year.  They got it down to two candidates - an M.D./PhD individual who was formerly a high official in the Armenian government health system (he was either the minister, or a top deputy to the minister, I don't recall which) and has worked around the world as a research scientist, and a young woman who had just graduated from Emory with a PhD.

They hired the woman, because woman.  She left the position last month without having ever completed her research paper, because a spot opened up in the group that she really wanted to be in.  So she's gone, the paper is in limbo, and Lev (the Armenian dude) is currently cooling his heels in Moscow.

This is *not* an unusual story at the CDC.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I was going with the part where you said they needed help to tie their shoes....

Yeah, its very sad when people with decades of 'boots on the ground' experience get passed over because of nepotism or the perceived need for "inclusiveness"... when what they really need is someone who knows what the hell they are doing, and has a record of getting it done.

Welcome to the world we live in.....

[Dorsai]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Welcome to the world we live in.....

Yep.  I have this dream that when the current crisis is over we'll revisit this issue, but I'm not going to hold my breath...

[ArdWrknTrk]

Rembrant wrote

I wish there was better data about what is going on, who is affected, etc.

I did notice this yesterday.


https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/2/21201832/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-best-graphs-tracking-data

Still just figures and charts, but in depth with some explanations.

[Dorsai]

Happy Easter, everyone!

You know what the best thing about Easter is (besides human salvation, life everlasting, etc etc etc)?  A new supply of small-parts cups!

[ArdWrknTrk]

Is that your handbag, Matthew?

VERY stylish!

[Dorsai]

Ha!

Took me a minute to figure out what you were referring to; those are my wife’s gardening gloves.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I just saw the strap and pink buckle. And, well....  

[Rembrant]

I guess driving my old Bullnose is going to be on hold for a while. I started having some knee pain about a week ago, and over the weekend it got extreme enough I had to go get it checked out. It is swelled up like a melon, and I can't walk on it. Doc thinks it is the "King's Disease" aka Gout, or PseudoGout as it were. It's one of those things I've heard about my whole life (I know a lot of alcoholics...lol) but have never experienced. There will be no clutch pedal pushing for Rembrant for a while. They pulled some fluid from the knee are are doing some testing.

Bad genes I tell ya, part of being an Irish/Scottish/English mutt...lol.

On the up side, talk about super service at the hospital. Wow...it was almost surreal to walk into the place and it be basically empty. Empty waiting room, and nothing but crickets. I went straight in which would never have happened under normal circumstances.

[Gary Lewis]

Sorry to see that, Cory!  I knew another guy with gout, and a teeny little pill controlled it, and quickly.  Did they give you any medication?

[Ray Cecil]

Cory, I know medical opinions are as about as touchy as religious and political opinions. However, I care about you and am willing to risk hurting somone elses feelings. My opinion....dont go straight to looking for a pill. Investigate your food and drink intake. Be honest with yourself. Is there any dietary changes you can make first? No such thing as "bad genes". Our lifestyle, stress load, environment, food and drink intake are factors that pressure gene expressions. Do the right things to express the right genes and you will achieve optimal health. The trick is finding out what is right for YOU. For me, its Keto or nearly all carnivore that gives me the best health. Typically, 1 large meal a day gives me the best results. I did my ancestry dna, I am nearly 100% Irish/Scottish/British/Welsh. I have just a few percent german/dutch. Im 34, 6'4", 195lbs, energetic, no meds, no gas, no digestive issues. My only "issue" is thinning hair on the top of my head.

[Dorsai]

If it's the pill I'm thinking of (I had a bit of gout a few years ago, and it was the most incredible pain I've ever experienced), it's just a pill to alleviate the immediate symptoms.  TAKE THE PILL.  And if that pill doesn't work, take the other one they offer you.  The first treatment didn't work for me, but the one they use if the first one doesn't work did.

After that, yes, consider your diet and any other lifestyle changes you can make.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Sorry to see that, Cory!  I knew another guy with gout, and a teeny little pill controlled it, and quickly.  Did they give you any medication?

Gary, the doc mentioned yesterday that there is a pill that is very good at stopping Gout, but only if you can catch it in the very initial onset (within first 3 days). She said after that time passes, the pill does nothing. Not sure if this is the one your friend took or not, but she said it works well if you can take it in time. Right now I'm only on some anti-inflammatory pills and Tylenol.

Ray Cecil wrote

Cory, I know medical opinions are as about as touchy as religious and political opinions. However, I care about you and am willing to risk hurting somone elses feelings. My opinion....dont go straight to looking for a pill. Investigate your food and drink intake. Be honest with yourself. Is there any dietary changes you can make first? No such thing as "bad genes". Our lifestyle, stress load, environment, food and drink intake are factors that pressure gene expressions. Do the right things to express the right genes and you will achieve optimal health. The trick is finding out what is right for YOU. For me, its Keto or nearly all carnivore that gives me the best health. Typically, 1 large meal a day gives me the best results. I did my ancestry dna, I am nearly 100% Irish/Scottish/British/Welsh. I have just a few percent german/dutch. Im 34, 6'4", 195lbs, energetic, no meds, no gas, no digestive issues. My only "issue" is thinning hair on the top of my head.

Ray, all understood brother. No feelings will be hurt here. I am fully aware of Keto, and in general terms I am in agreement with it. The bad genes bit was kind of a joke, but at the same time I know some families that do have hereditary issues, like heart disease and hyper tension. I did see the actual numbers one time, so I forget the exact stats, but diet and exercise are responsible for 80 or 90% of your health, but there is still a certain percentage that is just a wild card, or genetic. My wife is a vegetarian, but god love her she still cooks meat for me. So I don't follow any kind of Keto regime, but I do eat a lot of meat and veggies overall. I do have some room to improve, but overall we eat pretty healthy, and we get a fair bit of exercise.

You do have youth on your side, no doubt. Most issues or aches and pains aren't going to show up for you for another 10 years. The Keto is a good idea regardless, so you may be able to prevent some things from starting later on.

[Rembrant]

Dorsai wrote

If it's the pill I'm thinking of (I had a bit of gout a few years ago, and it was the most incredible pain I've ever experienced), it's just a pill to alleviate the immediate symptoms.  TAKE THE PILL.  And if that pill doesn't work, take the other one they offer you.  The first treatment didn't work for me, but the one they use if the first one doesn't work did.

After that, yes, consider your diet and any other lifestyle changes you can make.

The pain was incredible. I've got a pretty good tolerance for pain, but this stuff was over the top. I should mention, the doc just thinks it's Gout, they were not able to confirm. They pulled some fluid to check for crystals, and didn't find any. This doesn't mean that it is not Gout, it just means that they were unable to confirm such. X-ray showed some heavy calcification on the joint, which may be the problem.

She mentioned the pill worked if taken very early. Since this was my first time, I was already too late for that.

[Ray Cecil]

I had severe athritis starting by age 30. Ive had back issues, a back surgery, joint health issues most my life. I went keto/carnivore and never felt better in my life. Im no stranger to aches and pains.

One last thing, just because you have a genetic pre-disposition to a certain condition, doesn't mean you will get that condition/disease. If you dont know much about gene expressions, you really should research it. Something like 80% of our genetic makeup can be turned on and off through meditation, diet, exercise, environment, stress, economics etc. Gout has been touted as a rich man's disease because back 100+ years ago no one but rich men got it. Why? Because they were the only ones who could afford enough sugar and/or alcohol to get the disease.

1 meal a day is very good for older people, as it allows the bodies inflammation to be reduced from the food we eat. If you are in a 3 meal a day state, you are inflammed.

[Dorsai]

No, honey, I don’t have some tart’s bra in the truck...why do you ask?

[Gary Lewis]

Who's bra DO you have then?  

[Ray Cecil]

I thought this was a family friendly forum? Hahaha

[Dorsai]

A gentleman never tells!

[grumpin]

Dorsai wrote

A gentleman never tells!

That really cracks me up with your avatar next to it!