Wishful Thinking a Marker-Free Disease Does Not a Cure Make

I have a hard time reading news concerning Multiple Sclerosis when it amounts to little more than distorted or wishful thinking.

Even worse, when professional-journalists (editors) warp headlines based on their own deficient-thinking about the disease it irks me to no-end.

Having M.S. myself, I've identified more BAD journalism about M.S. than most folks.

Firstly, the perception that M.S. features definitive-markers like other diseases is just plain dumb.

Multiple Sclerosis doesn't result from the usual contagions with which other diseases are spread through human beings.

To my knowledge, only the (sometimes painful) extraction and measurement of Spinal-fluid mass can even professional neurologists determine that a person CERTAINLY HAS M.S.

A confirming (very expensive) MRI-scan will either verify or refute a neurologist's determination...but the idea that even small-molecule screening can lead to curative-medicines is fraught with error.

I think this misconception is caused by the irrational/hopeful belief that even professional-neurologist know EVERYTHING about human biology...they don't.

However, that doesn't stop people from deifying medical-science errantly.

We've only known about basic-human-physiology since the American Civil War, and it's still fairly brutal.

The transience of FACT in any analysis of M.S. is frightfully deceptive...physicians being ill-heralded miracle-workers (which, to be fair is PARTIALLY TRUE), but the truth is far-less hopeful.

I'm not saying that M.S. is incurable but I believe that any article about M.S. demands to be read with a healthy sense of skepticism.

If not, one risks falling into the pit of ideas such as CCSVI (chronic cerebral venous insufficiency), which although a novel idea, is as yet LACKING analysis as a legitimate THEORY.

A bad bet for SURGERY, imho...but M.S. is so disabling a condition, that some people would rather risk a surgeon monkeying around inside their neck to correct the problem rather than waiting for responsible theoretical testing to be completed.

CCVSI is scheduled for such testing by the National M.S. Society, but such testing will take several years to complete and verify...

I can't discourage risk-taking...but I wouldn't do it!

:) mattergy

REDUCE VOLUME FOR RICHER SOUND

TV-audio is notoriously tinny--despite all the advances in signal-transmission one might enjoy...those 3-inch speakers in your TV have no MASS to withstand the slap-back of OVER-DRIVEN output, as much as your situation might demand it.

THE WAY TO GET RICHER AUDIO IS TO REDUCE THE OVERALL POWER TO THE SPEAKERS...TRY IT.

:) mattergy

Norwegian Aurora

This is what a genuine aurora looks like (I enlarged and cropped THIS APOD photo).

BTW--Screenshot of Life

APOD citation of original image

Green LED Efficiency

I just wanted to remind folks that LED-bulbs (Light Emitting Diode) use so much less electricity than normal incandescent-bulbs without any loss of holiday-spirit (or brightness).

Point-being that if you want to save both money and electricity then use strings of LEDs rather than those archaic bulbs you've had for 50 years.

;) mattergy

Dog-Lingo/Cat-Lingo

I love pets as much as the next guy, but I must say that their care is best left to people without M.S.;)

This is for the sake of BOTH owner and pet.

Pets are only as intelligent as they've been trained to be

Especially regarding their natural biological impulses.

Since I can barely walk myself, I can't own one...it wouldn't be humane...especially after I've accidentally stepped on it once or twice...calm words only go so far in nature.

--mattergy