(no subject)
I can't get over this cat parasite. At first I thought it was hooey but it has been gaining some steam and has hit mainstream press. The prof. behind this research seems on the up and up and even he admits his theory that this parasite could have significant cultural influence is a little off the wall. Read about it for yourself.
Toxoplasma (cat-poo parasite):
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=2288095&page=1
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/06/04/how-cat-poo-parasite.html
My favorite comment (from Boing Boing): "I still think that brain-altering parasites might play some role in "crazy cat lady" syndrome."
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Yesterday I had a coworker break down mid conversation while we were chatting in the bathroom. She had an accident 5 years ago and suffered brain damage which included inner ear damage and spinal injuries. She walks with a cane and is in constant pain. One of her hands can't grip onto things and she has some paralysis on her right side. She talked about how she use to Rollerblade and ski with her son. Now she can barely open doors. She feels like she is only part of the person she use to be and she is ashamed of who the woman she is now. I did my best and listened but I couldn't help but wish I had some sort of formal counseling training (unfortunately I don't have the years it would take to hone such a skill). I told her she was brave (which I do believe...she is a really nice lady who told me I had stunning eyes when we first met. She wears funky rings and is always cheery. Cheerier than most people I associate with) and walked her back to her desk.
What made me mad was she talked about how she has trouble accessing things despite working in an building with access.* She pointed some of the problems with the building we worked in and the difficulties in getting some of those things changed. She is doing all she can and I want to help but I really feel powerless. She lives in a frustrating world.
*This is something I am VERY aware of. As part of my training at the National Gallery of Canada I had to spend a day in a wheelchair to understand the accessibility issues in a building (they are very aware of the problems but the cost to reconfigure the gallery would be INSANE - regardless they do try to push for the funding to increase accessibility). It really changes your perspective.
Toxoplasma (cat-poo parasite):
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=2288095&page=1
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/06/04/how-cat-poo-parasite.html
My favorite comment (from Boing Boing): "I still think that brain-altering parasites might play some role in "crazy cat lady" syndrome."
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Yesterday I had a coworker break down mid conversation while we were chatting in the bathroom. She had an accident 5 years ago and suffered brain damage which included inner ear damage and spinal injuries. She walks with a cane and is in constant pain. One of her hands can't grip onto things and she has some paralysis on her right side. She talked about how she use to Rollerblade and ski with her son. Now she can barely open doors. She feels like she is only part of the person she use to be and she is ashamed of who the woman she is now. I did my best and listened but I couldn't help but wish I had some sort of formal counseling training (unfortunately I don't have the years it would take to hone such a skill). I told her she was brave (which I do believe...she is a really nice lady who told me I had stunning eyes when we first met. She wears funky rings and is always cheery. Cheerier than most people I associate with) and walked her back to her desk.
What made me mad was she talked about how she has trouble accessing things despite working in an building with access.* She pointed some of the problems with the building we worked in and the difficulties in getting some of those things changed. She is doing all she can and I want to help but I really feel powerless. She lives in a frustrating world.
*This is something I am VERY aware of. As part of my training at the National Gallery of Canada I had to spend a day in a wheelchair to understand the accessibility issues in a building (they are very aware of the problems but the cost to reconfigure the gallery would be INSANE - regardless they do try to push for the funding to increase accessibility). It really changes your perspective.