Today has not been a good day…but none to fear Buzz Feed has a list for that here.
Seriously though, these bad days keep popping up more and more recently and I seem to be unable to figure out what to do about it.
I’m writing this short post for some help because the Buzz Feed list just did not do the trick.
What do you do to get yourself out of a bad rut or cheer yourself up on a bad day?
I was scrolling through the NPR news stories the other day and suddenly stopped on this headline, “Trapped In His Own Body For 12 Years, A Man Breaks Free”. Needless to say, I was curious, but soon I would be pretty terrified.
This was one of those stories that the longer you read it the more freaked out you became. Medical issues can come up in anyone’s lives and most of the time they are pretty unpredictable. Of course there are the obvious medical conditions that you can be avoided with diet and exercise but Cryptococcus meningitis, not so much.
Martin Pistorius was 12 years old when he became seriously ill resulting in Martin falling into a vegetative state after losing all bodily functions. The doctor’s had no real diagnosis for Martin and suggested Martin’s parents take him home to die. But Martin did not die, he continued to breathe and continued to live.
At this point in the story I’m already freaked by the sheer suddenness of the disorder and the idea that it could happen to anybody, even myself. These thoughts are always so over whelming when reading pieces such as these and the reactions are conflicting.
In several cases you are just glad to be healthy and that you are not going through what anonymous person A is or has gone through. In other cases you feel that fear of not being in control of your life and you react with a call to the doctor for a check up or you order a salad instead of that quarter pounder. Many people react differently to stories such as these and it is obvious why. Because this could truly happen to anyone.
Back to the story…
For the next 12 years Martin’s parents, Rodney and Joan Pistorius, took care of him. Bathing, feeding, transporting and rotate him so that he never got bedsores. Each and every day these loving parents cared for their son and each and every day they were tormented by this disease that took their son away from them. The parent’s will was tested. Joan, Martin’s mother even asked for him to just die as a way to end his suffering. She didn’t think he could hear her, but unfortunately, Martin did.
Martin said in his interviews with NPR, that a little over 2 years into his condition he started to wake up. He slowing became aware of his surroundings and later became fully aware of everything going on around him but was unable to communicate with others at all.
Martin stated “Everyone was so used to me not being there that they didn’t notice when I began to be present again,” he says. “The stark reality hit me that I was going to spend the rest of my life like that — totally alone.”
Martin started to feel better over time and began the long journey towards regaining control over himself. He is married now and living as normal of a life as possible after his condition.
Listening to this story we see how fragile life can be and how it can take a turn for the worse on such short notice. Enjoy life cause you never know when it can be taken away.
“I just enjoy life now. I just enjoy every morning I get to wake up.” – Nas
A note, before I start: I had to do research and learn what the hell the difference is between Holland, the Netherlands and Denmark before writing this post. So obviously I am supposed to be writing right now.
Anyway. This picture’s making the rounds:
Here’s what you’re supposed to do: you’re supposed to look at this picture and go arr wharglebargle kids these days yarr, and be all mad. In case you don’t recognize it, that painting on the wall back there is Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, which isn’t actually called that officially but whatever. The idea is that these kids– who look, to my eyes, to be maybe eighth- or ninth-graders, are in the presence of Priceless! Artwork! and instead of reverently gazing upon it they are daring to look at their phones. Horror! Terror! Decline of society! Wharrgarbl! Facebook is so angry about this, guys.
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I don’t know where to begin… or what to actually say about what has happened in France.
Three masked gunmen stormed the Paris offices of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo shortly before midday, killing 12 people and injuring 11 more before escaping in a car. Some of France’s most prominent cartoonists were among the dead, including the magazine’s director Stéphane Charbonnier. Seven other journalists were killed along with two police officers, a guest at the Charlie Hebdo offices and the building’s receptionist. Charlie Hebdo had been a target of Islamist extremists ever since it published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, Islam’s holiest figure, in 2006. Its previous headquarters were firebombed in 2011.
As I read these headlines of the tragedy that has struck these families and the country of France, I can’t seem to find the words to describe how I feel. I am of course upset and confused but ultimately I am left speechless and shaking my head trying to understand the sense behind committing this act or even how something like this could have happened to begin with.
…
I honestly have no answers and I still cannot find sufficient words to describe how I feel about these events. All I can say is that I commend the work these individuals have done for freedom of speech. In France we have seen that this tragedy has not wavered the the French peoples resolve with several hundred people gathering and standing up to these acts stating “NOT AFRAID”. Acts such as these should not and cannot be allowed to succeed by implementing censorship and bully individuals into giving up their rights because of fear.
What has happened wasn’t courageous or meaningful, it was senseless and cowardly. The real heroes are the individuals that continue to fight the good fight and maintain in the face of danger, threat and harm.
– Jess
Although I cannot attend CES 2015, for so many reasons to mention, I am very interested in the tech coming out of the CES 2015 event!
Here is a list of my favorite pieces of tech announced on the first day of CES International 2015.
LG G Flex 2- LG
First off we have the LG G Flex 2 by LG, of course. The phone has received a lot of praise and has been deemed by many other blogger in the tech community as the first great curved smartphone.
The LG G Flex 2 has a smaller, more manageable screen to compliment the subtle curve which is powered by the latest in processor technology with the all-new Snapdragon 810 processor. LG also included a 1080p screen after many couldn’t believe that the previous generation only had a 720p display.
SmartEyeglass – Sony
Sony’s SmartEyeglass is the first real competition for Google’s most controversial wearable technology Google Glass. Many great things about the SmartEyeglass including navigation for runners allowing directions and mapping information while running in cities. Not entirely sure of the wide-spread use of this feature but I’m sure when and if this becomes available others will find plenty of uses for the new wearable technology.
Sling TV- Dish
Lastly, and one of the most exciting thing for all of you cord cutters was sling TV. The Sling TV service works much like the Ruko and other streaming devices that allows you to select channels or “apps” to watch their content. Some of the channels included in Sling TV’s initial lineup include ESPN, ESPN 2, TNT, TBS, Food Network Channel, Adult Swim and many other great options all for $20 a month.
It seems as though Dish is seeing clearly when it comes to the future of entertainment and the role cable and satellite providers are starting to play in it. This service combined with an Amazon Fire Stick or Amazon Fire TV unit, as well as other compatible devices, seems to cover much of what any television lover would need to enjoy their favorite shows and movies.
Those were my favorites from the first day at CES 2015. Even though I can’t be there it is always exciting to read about the latest and greatest in technology!
Let me know what you liked about the first day at CES International 2015. What would like to see most coming out of the tech world?
As I write this I am fulfilling my first new years resolution. That New Years Resolution was to write more.
What exactly is more? I am not sure yet but we will see where this resolution goes and what I can create through this blog. What I do know is that I wanna hear from you. What are you your goals? Resolutions? Do you not have any? Why?
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