Wednesday, Jan 21:
On Wednesday some of my friends noticed flags around Colorado Springs were flying at half staff. So I found out that the Colorado Governor ordered all flags to fly at half staff in honor of a fallen U.S. Army Staff Sergeant from Colorado. SSgt. Bauer was killed on Jan 10 in Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. He had earned a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and an Army Commendation Medal. He was 24 years old.
It left me sad, speechless, and humbled.
Thursday, Jan 22:
Thursday I had a dinner party for a dear friend of mine. Danny went to college with me and he lives in Africa right now, but was back for a visit over the last month. We had a little reunion of KU alumni and it was a lot of fun. And as is the case with most reunions, the conversation covered a wide range of topics. So during the evening I witnessed a lively little argument about rabies. Allison and Danny argued about whether or not rabies is fatal, until they realized they were both arguing the same point: rabies is fatal unless someone has been vaccinated previously or receives a vaccination very quickly after becoming infected. I looked it up later and found out that there have actually been two documented cases of survival where the patient did not receive any rabies-specific treatment. Also, it is suggested that inducing a coma in infected patients may allow someone to survive. In 2005 a girl from Wisconsin received the treatment (called the Milwaukee Protocol). The theory is that being in a coma protects the brain from damage while the body builds up an immune response to the rabies. The girl was hospitalized for 76 days, 31 of which were in isolation, but she recovered.
Friday, Jan 23:
Friday was part 2 of a girls' night that my friend Suzanne hosted. We watched Anne of Green Gables, which I had never read or seen before. So I finally learned how the story turns out. But I did enjoy it. I think deep down all girls love the guy-gets-girl storyline, no matter how predictable or unrealistic it is.
Saturday, Jan 24:
Elisa and I were discussing the origin of Obama's campaign slogan, "Yes we can." We have been talking about how it's basically the English translation of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers' "Sí se puede" from the seventies. So Elisa googled "Yes we can" and found this: Yes We Can (Hold Babies). I cannot explain the laughter that ensued. At first we thought it might be a joke. But the more you look at the site, the more it looks sincere. Amazing.
Sunday, Jan 25:
Today I learned that a group of porcupines is called a prickle. I also learned that baby porcupines are extremely tiny and cute in a semi-disgusting way.
See?
That picture is not mine, by the way. I found it online.
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