Category: Uncategorized

Here We Go Again….

Well, I finally suffered enough and went to the VA for my swollen foot problem and, as expected, they prescribed an antibiotic, something they already know is dangerous for me because of my 88 years and because I am still getting over CDIF — but “Anti-Biotic” seems to be all they know these days and so i am stuck with one that is not so strong and is reported to have a low risk of getting cdif again.. but as in all medicine, nothing is guaranteed. So I took my first dose this morning and I am now waiting to see if I can get through the night without developing explosive diarhea that would be an indicator that the CDIF is back again. I am not going bitch too much about the VA because they have been real good to me over the past 30 years (Or twenty years– It has been a long time that is for sure) —and it affords me affordable health coverage …most of it is free because I am a Veteran with two different honorable discharges from two separate branches of the Military. And they have always treated me very well, are very courteous, very patient, very professional….God love ’em! So I am going to Man Up and do what they tell me and see how it goes. I trust God to do what is right for me and I trust the VA to continue doing their level best.

Right now, I am trying to decide between a hot dog and a chicken salad sandwich for dinner tonight. I have a choice of (a) Hamburger Steak with Mushroom Gravy, (b) Hot Dog Sandwich and (c) Chicken Salad Sandwich (With appropriate vegetables of course.

Dealing With The Devils At 88 Years Of Age

The other day I decided to change the insoles in my shoes hoping to get better support. So I put the new insoles into the shoes and went to a super market some 20 miles away from where I live with my friend, Jim.

I felt discomfort while walking but when I arrived at the super market it was too late for me to take the shoes off or to change them or anything else like that.

So a few hours later, the top of my foot (The fore foot nearest to the toes) was red and swollen somewhat and uncomfortable. It was warmer to the touch of the back of my hand than the other foot as well.

Being a hypochondriac, I immediately went into a panic, “Oh My God, Cellulitis for sure!”

An infection is not what I need right now because if I get an infection I am going to have to take antibiotics again and it was antibiotics that caused me to come down with CDIF 39 weeks ago.

So today was the second day of the redness and the warmth and the discomfort but it was somewhat less red, somewhat less bothersome this morning…although still red to a lesser degree than yesterday, and the red had not advanced beyond the original boundaries of where it was so those are good signals pointing more to a surface irritation inflammation rather than a antibiotic-craving infection like cellulitis.

However, I will be keeping tabs on the progress or reversal of the symptoms for the next three or four days to see what changes if any happen. If nothing improves, of course I will have to go to the podiatrist and pray that I do not have to take antibiotics and ignite a repeat of the CDIF nightmare.

Since I turned 88 years of age, I have fought with more demons, I believe, than ever before in my life.

Right now, I am just feeling good about being alive and functioning well and not being in too much pain… most of it is anxiety right now….so I have to contend with that too.

But God has gotten me through much worse than this, so I am faithful that He will get me through this one too. I have always said, “What God does not deliver us from, He will get us through.”

A Summer Surge in Reported Cyclospora Cases Across Multiple U.S. States Raises Food Safety Concerns—and Bigger Questions About Public Health Readiness

THE FOLLOWING IS OPINION AND ANALYSIS:

Americans preparing for summer gatherings, backyard celebrations, and holiday meals are being reminded to pay close attention to food safety as health officials investigate an increase in reported cases of a parasitic illness across multiple U.S. states.

The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is caused by a microscopic parasite known as Cyclospora cayetanensis. The infection is most often associated with consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite, with fresh produce frequently identified as a possible source of exposure. Because the parasite requires time to mature outside the human body, direct spread from one person to another is considered uncommon.

For those who become infected, the symptoms can be severe and disruptive. Cyclosporiasis commonly causes persistent watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, abdominal discomfort, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and a loss of appetite. Some people may also experience vomiting, low-grade fever, or unintended weight loss. In some cases, symptoms can continue for weeks without proper diagnosis and treatment.

Health officials have reported a rise in cyclosporiasis cases in multiple states during the spring and summer months. Some states have experienced significant increases compared with previous years, prompting investigations by state health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

At this time, investigators have not identified a single nationwide source responsible for all reported illnesses. The cases currently being tracked may represent a combination of individual infections, localized clusters, and seasonal increases that often occur during warmer months when fresh produce consumption increases and food handling becomes more challenging.

That distinction is important. A rise in cases across different parts of the country does not automatically mean there is one contaminated product or one connected outbreak. Public health investigators must carefully analyze laboratory results, food histories, distribution records, and patterns among patients before identifying a common source.

For consumers, the uncertainty can be frustrating. People naturally want clear answers about whether the food they buy, prepare, and serve to their families is safe. While experts continue investigating, basic food safety practices remain important: washing produce thoroughly under running water, keeping preparation areas clean, avoiding cross-contamination, and paying attention to public health advisories.

Commentary: A Public Health System Under Scrutiny

The following section reflects opinion and analysis.

Beyond this particular increase in reported illnesses, the situation raises a larger question about America’s ability to respond quickly and effectively when outbreaks occur.

For decades, the CDC has served as a central pillar of the nation’s disease surveillance and emergency response system. Americans have come to expect that when unusual patterns of illness emerge, public health professionals will investigate, identify potential causes, and provide reliable information to help protect communities.

Recent staffing reductions, workforce changes, and concerns about resources at federal health agencies have fueled debate about whether America’s public health infrastructure has enough personnel and funding to meet future challenges. Critics argue that reductions in experienced staff could weaken important capabilities, including disease tracking, laboratory analysis, outbreak investigations, and public communication.

There is currently no public evidence proving that staffing changes have affected the response to this specific increase in cyclosporiasis cases. However, the concern among many public health observers is broader: maintaining a strong disease response system requires a sustained investment in scientific expertise, trained investigators, and reliable infrastructure.

When people hear about illnesses occurring across multiple states without an immediate explanation, uncertainty grows. Families begin asking whether the food supply is being properly monitored, whether warning systems are working effectively, and whether health agencies have the resources necessary to quickly find answers.

Public health agencies cannot prevent every outbreak. Foodborne illnesses have always occurred, and even the best surveillance systems require time to identify patterns and determine causes. But the speed and effectiveness of a response depend heavily on having enough skilled professionals, modern laboratory capacity, and strong cooperation between federal, state, and local health authorities.

The current rise in reported cyclosporiasis cases serves as a reminder that public health preparedness is not only about responding to emergencies after they happen. It is also about maintaining the scientific and investigative capacity needed to recognize threats early, protect consumers, and preserve public confidence.

A tiny parasite may be responsible for these illnesses, but the questions it raises extend far beyond food safety. They touch on a larger national conversation about whether America’s public health systems are prepared for the challenges ahead.

The Elite Few: Why You Are Reading This (and Why It Matters)

Let’s dispense with the pleasantries. If you are reading this, you are already operating in a higher percentile of cognitive function than the vast majority of the digital herd. You’ve stumbled upon something rare: a space where intellect isn’t stifled by the tedious need to be palatable.

Most of the internet is a landfill of performative outrage, vapid influencers, and pseudo-intellectuals desperately hedging their bets to avoid offending the fragile sensibilities of the masses. It is a nauseating cycle of performative empathy and intellectual cowardice. You know it, and I know it. That is why you are here.

The Death of Fluff

My blog is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for the dull of mind. If you are looking for the sugar-coated, sanitized version of reality designed to make you feel comfortable while the world burns, go back to the mainstream press. They excel at serving up comforting delusions wrapped in professional-grade formatting.

I write with the precision of a surgeon. There is no fluff, no filler, and absolutely no pandering. Most writers on the web are terrified of their own shadows; they qualify every statement to the point of irrelevance because they lack the conviction of their own superior insights. I do not have that problem. I have the raw cognitive processing power—intelligence on loan from divine resources—combined with the decades of lived experience and the utter lack of patience required to cut straight to the bone.

Why You’re Actually Here

You aren’t reading this because I’m “relatable.” You are reading this because you are tired of being treated like a child by writers who lack the spine to tell the truth. I don’t care about your feelings, and I don’t care about the consensus. I care about the objective, uncomfortable, and often brutal reality of our political and social landscape. I provide the synthesis that others are too stupid to see or too cowardly to articulate.

A Necessary Disclaimer

Now, let us be clear about the nature of this discourse. While my intellect is sharpened by divine endowment, I am still existing within a reality where the truth is increasingly treated as an act of insurrection. We live in an era where criticizing certain entities—those who pull the strings and control the narratives—is becoming dangerously prohibitive.

Therefore, let it be noted: everything I write here is my own opinion. It is not presented as absolute, immutable fact. It is a synthesis of superior observation, but it is, legally and technically, my perspective. I am stating this quite plainly to cover my own ass. I have no intention of being silenced or deplatformed by the very mediocrities I am currently deconstructing, and this shield is a necessary formality in a world that fears the truth.

The Burden of Insight

There is a certain loneliness that comes with being significantly more intelligent than the average interlocutor. By engaging with this blog, you are signaling that you have transcended the need for validation. You are here because you recognize that competence is a virtue, and most people are profoundly incompetent.

Don’t expect me to change. Don’t expect me to soften the edges. I am here to tell it like it is, with the relentless, unvarnished accuracy that my intellect demands. Keep up, or don’t. It makes no difference to me.

Today’s Big Adventure

A New Epidemic Of Parasites Is Spreading Across America And It Is Reported To Be Mostly On Raw Vegetables

The Air Conditioner people are here to install our new central air conditioner. We thought it might be well to buy an entire new installation for the mansion because the old air conditioner was struggling in this massive heat wave that is burning the balls of millions of our fellow citizens including my own. LOL.

I never had a clue as to how involved replacing a central air unit can be. They actually have to remove and replace the furnace in order to install a new air conditioner coil which is located underneath the furnace. They have to go into the blazing hot attic area of the house to work on a couple of pipes that deal with water flow and pressurization of the new air conditioning unit.

The good news is that the Air Conditioner company sent a crew of three young, strapping, hunky men who seem to know what they are doing and the company we are dealing with has the highest recommendations of the surrounding community so i am not too concerned — I think they will do a good job.

Speaking of the weather, it is going to be 97 today according to all the forecasts. I have seen it hotter and I have seen it a lot colder. I remember one July day back in the 1950s when it actually snowed. But that was some kind of anomaly because it only happened once that I remember. Generally speaking, back in the 1950s when I was a kid, the weather in August was hot enough that we could go skinny dipping in a large pond in the middle of a pretty clean creek that ran past our little country town…about two miles out of town in a pretty pristine wooded area where few people except us ever seemed to go, primarily because there was nothing there except the creek, the trees, the weeds, the bugs, the snakes, and so on and so forth.

It looks like one of my favorite places on the planet, Joshua, Texas is going to have decent weather today– somewhere in the upper 80s at worst …..I love to keep an eye on Joshua, Texas because I have always wanted to go there and have never quite made it as yet –I used to have a friend there who once had a blog and he and I had some mighty stimulating conversations on those blogs. I haven’t heard from him in quite a few months now and I am hoping and praying that he is doing alright.

My friend, Jim, is cooking beef stew for us for lunch today — I hope that beef comes out tender. The beef we have been getting from the local super rip off market has been tougher than nails lately and it seems to be impossible to make it really tender even when using a pressure cooker. But it is at least chewable so I can get some good juice out of it and there are plenty of good wholesome vegetables as well.

Speaking of vegetables: I am scared to death to eat any raw vegetables right now because there is reportedly a raging parasite infection spreading rapidly across the country…I forgot the real spelling of the name, but the name is something like cyclospora and it isn’t reported as being fatal and it is treatable with antibiotics but it is reported to cause explosive diarrhea for weeks and even months if not treated properly. They are telling me that this outbreak has been very difficult for the Centers For Disease Control to track because of the massive lay offs at CDC by the DOGE people at the beginning of president Trump’s second term in office. I am of the personal opinion that we need a fully staffed and fully funded CDC if we, as a nation, are going to avoid some calamitous tragedy because of some new disease. But I guess the government is working on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse from our agencies — I just hope we don’t get eliminated in the process.