I changed my blog name!
I posted on Facebook that I wanted a new name for my blog (and I promised a tasty baked consumable in exchange for a better name than the one I previously had), and my lovable sister responded within minutes with a long list of possibilities!
And all of them had "REL" in the name (I'll explain the origin of that later in this post if you don't already understand it). Even the one I chose to use.
It was a pretty entertaining list, so I've decided to share some of the funnier ones!
Aurora Bore-e-Rel-is
Are you for Rel?
Rellie, guys?
REL, Oh.
Tor-Rel-tial Downpour
Isn't she a fun one? Haha
So where did we ever come up with "REL?"
Wellllll. You know my name is Aurielle.
When pronounced correctly (although there are tons of way I've heard it pronounced, including but not limited to: Ariel, Oreo, Oriole, Anjrielle[when people somehow forget Anjoli's and my names and just mash them together hoping it works], and Arrelle), it sounds like "R-E-L." Yep, just say those three letters as one fluent word and you've said my name!
As a quicker, more text-friendly way of saying my name, my lovely twin started typing it "REL" and eventually other people started doing the same. It even transformed into just "Rel" in many cases (yes, it was sometimes even said aloud that way when reading texts out loud that included my name).
So that's the story. My "nickname" when typed is "Rel." Haha. I'll admit: even I sign "Rel" on messages to friends too. So I can't blame anyone else for doing it!
Although, between you and me, I always though "Auri" was a cool nickname when I was younger, but I have never been brave enough to establish a nickname for myself. And I do actually enjoy my full name. Oh well. Another issue for another day. Maybe when I'm 80 or 90 I'll start going by "Auri" just to switch it up sometimes. ;)
Back to the name change:
"It's all RELevant."
Now you know why "REL" is in the name, but the rest of the name was chosen because it represents what I post pretty well: whatever is relevant to the times and/or to me at the moment I'm writing it.
Maybe I'll even start posting more blogs. Who knows? I tend to forget to do these things.
I have a one-line-a-day journal (shouldn't be that hard to keep up with it, right?) and I'm about 6 weeks behind. No I need to go back through my schedules and everything to see what important and memorable things happened during the past 6 weeks so I can fill in those days. Wish me luck.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
What should I know about Ebola?
Alright, so there's been a lot of talk about the Ebola outbreak and the subsequent transport of infected individuals to the United States.
And if you know me at all, you know I like a good controversial topic for blogs.
On this one, however, I'm not going to say much about the controversies of this topic (Should those patients have been brought here? Should ZMapp and other experimental drugs be used on patients [regardless of the country in which they're treated]? Should we be worried about the virus spreading in the US? etc.). I simply want everyone to stop posting on social media about their strong opinions regarding these issues when in actuality they don't know the first about Ebola.
So I'm compiling a summary of things I think you should know so you can formulate your own informed thoughts on the matter.
And guess what: everything I'm about to tell you is coming from reputable sources (yay!! insert cheering here!). They're coming from peer-reviewed articles and I may even throw something in here from sources like the CDC or Mayo Clinic (yes, those two are relatively dependable and often cite peer-reviewed sources in their articles) or some other academic resources. I'll even put all my sources at the bottom of the page and color-code the sections with info from those sources so you'll know where to go for more info (you might want more info on some things because let's be real: I'm not writing a dissertation here).
What does all that mean? WELL. It means that unless you're one of those I-hate-"Big-Pharma" individuals who thinks that every doctor and scientist is part of a "Big Pharma" government conspiracy, then you should believe everything I say here because it's derived from tested, falsifiable data that resulted from real research.
Anyway, here ya go. Everything I find important about Ebola all in one place:
1) Ebola is a hemorrhagic disease. That means you bleed from literally every orifice of your body, but it starts with just the typical flu symptoms. The incubation period (the time it takes you to get sick after being exposed) can be between 2 and 21 days. Up to 90% (depending on origin/strain) die from this disease. The first documented Ebola case was in 1976.
2) The disease is caused by Ebola virus (different sources use "ebolavirus," in which cases you'd specify by strain: Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Zaire ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Taï Forest ebolavirus; but I'm speaking in general terms here and will therefore use only the term "Ebola virus.").
Ebola is NOT caused by bacteria, parasites, or other protozoans. It's not caused by molds or other fungi.
Ebola virus is a member of the Filovirus family (along with Marburg virus, which is also the cause of a hemorrhagic disease) and is an RNA virus (which means nothing to you unless you're into the science-y stuff, in which case it's important for you to know that).
It may also interest you to the know that the Reston strain was shown to be asymptomatic in humans.
3) Every virus comes from somewhere in nature. That place in nature is called a reservoir for the virus. The sources of every virus is not necessarily known yet. The reservoir of the Ebola virus is currently thought to be the fruit bat.
4) How contagious is Ebola? Well, that's debatable depending upon your source because "how contagious" is a pretty subjective if you ask me. Without interjecting my personal opinion, here are the facts:
You can contract the virus through contact with blood, secretions (and other bodily fluids), or organs of infected individuals (or even contact with those things in infected primates).
Men can also pass on the virus through semen for 7 weeks after recovering from the illness (assuming they survive it in the first place).
If you're traveling to areas where Ebola is prominent, here is a good resource from the CDC to help you prevent contracting the disease:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/Fact_Sheets/humanitarian.pdf
It's important to note the social implications of these facts. The mourning/burial rituals of some of the cultures in Africa where Ebola is currently prominent have to be ceased during these outbreaks because special burial protocol must be followed for Ebola victims. It's heartbreaking that their families and communities don't get the chance to mourn in the way they wish to do for their loved ones.
5) There is currently no proven-effective treatment or vaccine. Some studies have shown it's possible to develop vaccines -- at least for primates (but that gives us some hope, right?)-- for the virus but so far none have been developed and approved.
ZMapp is an experimental drug that has just recently been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use during the current outbreak. It was produced from mouse antibodies by a company called Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. It has so far only been tested on infected animals (believe it or not, it's difficult to get permission to try out new drugs on humans) but due to the severity of this outbreak, an exception has been made.
So far, the Americans who have received the experimental treatment (and some doctors in Liberia who also received the treatment) seem to be recovering.
Could this experimental treatment prove most effective? Hope so!
Well that was what I thought was most important for you to know while also sparing some of the more cumbersome details. Now you can come up with opinions on the topics while knowing the facts. Please visit the sources (listed below and color-coded with the facts above) to get more details and information. Stay healthy and be respectful if you comment!
Sources (not written in any special format, just the URLs):
http://www.pnas.org/content/94/26/14764.full?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Sanchez&searchid=QID_NOT_SET&FIRSTINDEX=
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7068/full/438575a.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0042682287902832
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v408/n6812/full/408605a0.html
https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/17723053/115806057/name/nejmp1409494.pdf
http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5161.abstract
And if you know me at all, you know I like a good controversial topic for blogs.
On this one, however, I'm not going to say much about the controversies of this topic (Should those patients have been brought here? Should ZMapp and other experimental drugs be used on patients [regardless of the country in which they're treated]? Should we be worried about the virus spreading in the US? etc.). I simply want everyone to stop posting on social media about their strong opinions regarding these issues when in actuality they don't know the first about Ebola.
So I'm compiling a summary of things I think you should know so you can formulate your own informed thoughts on the matter.
And guess what: everything I'm about to tell you is coming from reputable sources (yay!! insert cheering here!). They're coming from peer-reviewed articles and I may even throw something in here from sources like the CDC or Mayo Clinic (yes, those two are relatively dependable and often cite peer-reviewed sources in their articles) or some other academic resources. I'll even put all my sources at the bottom of the page and color-code the sections with info from those sources so you'll know where to go for more info (you might want more info on some things because let's be real: I'm not writing a dissertation here).
What does all that mean? WELL. It means that unless you're one of those I-hate-"Big-Pharma" individuals who thinks that every doctor and scientist is part of a "Big Pharma" government conspiracy, then you should believe everything I say here because it's derived from tested, falsifiable data that resulted from real research.
Anyway, here ya go. Everything I find important about Ebola all in one place:
1) Ebola is a hemorrhagic disease. That means you bleed from literally every orifice of your body, but it starts with just the typical flu symptoms. The incubation period (the time it takes you to get sick after being exposed) can be between 2 and 21 days. Up to 90% (depending on origin/strain) die from this disease. The first documented Ebola case was in 1976.
2) The disease is caused by Ebola virus (different sources use "ebolavirus," in which cases you'd specify by strain: Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Zaire ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Taï Forest ebolavirus; but I'm speaking in general terms here and will therefore use only the term "Ebola virus.").
Ebola is NOT caused by bacteria, parasites, or other protozoans. It's not caused by molds or other fungi.
Ebola virus is a member of the Filovirus family (along with Marburg virus, which is also the cause of a hemorrhagic disease) and is an RNA virus (which means nothing to you unless you're into the science-y stuff, in which case it's important for you to know that).
It may also interest you to the know that the Reston strain was shown to be asymptomatic in humans.
3) Every virus comes from somewhere in nature. That place in nature is called a reservoir for the virus. The sources of every virus is not necessarily known yet. The reservoir of the Ebola virus is currently thought to be the fruit bat.
4) How contagious is Ebola? Well, that's debatable depending upon your source because "how contagious" is a pretty subjective if you ask me. Without interjecting my personal opinion, here are the facts:
You can contract the virus through contact with blood, secretions (and other bodily fluids), or organs of infected individuals (or even contact with those things in infected primates).
Men can also pass on the virus through semen for 7 weeks after recovering from the illness (assuming they survive it in the first place).
If you're traveling to areas where Ebola is prominent, here is a good resource from the CDC to help you prevent contracting the disease:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/Fact_Sheets/humanitarian.pdf
It's important to note the social implications of these facts. The mourning/burial rituals of some of the cultures in Africa where Ebola is currently prominent have to be ceased during these outbreaks because special burial protocol must be followed for Ebola victims. It's heartbreaking that their families and communities don't get the chance to mourn in the way they wish to do for their loved ones.
5) There is currently no proven-effective treatment or vaccine. Some studies have shown it's possible to develop vaccines -- at least for primates (but that gives us some hope, right?)-- for the virus but so far none have been developed and approved.
ZMapp is an experimental drug that has just recently been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use during the current outbreak. It was produced from mouse antibodies by a company called Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. It has so far only been tested on infected animals (believe it or not, it's difficult to get permission to try out new drugs on humans) but due to the severity of this outbreak, an exception has been made.
So far, the Americans who have received the experimental treatment (and some doctors in Liberia who also received the treatment) seem to be recovering.
Could this experimental treatment prove most effective? Hope so!
Well that was what I thought was most important for you to know while also sparing some of the more cumbersome details. Now you can come up with opinions on the topics while knowing the facts. Please visit the sources (listed below and color-coded with the facts above) to get more details and information. Stay healthy and be respectful if you comment!
Sources (not written in any special format, just the URLs):
http://www.pnas.org/content/94/26/14764.full?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Sanchez&searchid=QID_NOT_SET&FIRSTINDEX=
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7068/full/438575a.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0042682287902832
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v408/n6812/full/408605a0.html
https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/17723053/115806057/name/nejmp1409494.pdf
http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5161.abstract
Monday, February 24, 2014
Why Kids Give Me Hope
I've been "princess sitting" two little girls for the past six years. For the sake of this blog, I'll call them "M." and "A." They're currently ages 10 and 8, respectively (and to show how old I am, I definitely typed "8 and 6" the first time!).
I was watching these two "princessesses" this past Friday when one of their neighborhood friends (I'll call her "S.") stopped by for a short visit. All three girls were playing in a little playhouse at the top of their swing set and I was on puppy duty (puppies are horribly messy when it's a post-melted-snow type of day and no one wants little girls with muddy paw prints all over their clothes!) but what I heard from a short distance away absolutely made my day--no, my week.
M. and A. asked their friend, S., if she had been reading the Bible they gave her and whether or not she had been going to church. S. said, "well...I haven't really read it yet...I get really busy with homework and stuff..." and re:church she said that "church is REALLY boring and the last two times I went I didn't learn anything!"
Thinking that this would discourage the princesses I know and love, I thought the girls might just shrug it off and let it go or perhaps change their tone to a disappointed one and continue playing.
But, no.
They countered their adorable little friend and said, "But church is fun, and the Bible has LOTS of really good stories in it!"
Then M. proceeded to tell the story of Moses in great detail (it may have helped that we talked about part of his story--but still, only a small part of it--earlier that day during homeschooling) from birth to rescuing his people from Egypt. My heart melted!
A little more than halfway through M.'s story, S. said, "I'm getting SO BORED. Are you done with the story yet??"
And without missing a beat, M. said, "almost, then we can play!" and continued where she left off in the story.
And, of course, A. was adding wonderful details to the story, too!
At the end of the story, again, S. very explicitly expressed her boredom (even though, personally, I thought the girls did an excellent job of telling the story with excitement and enthusiasm to make it interesting for S., but the princesses didn't get discouraged. Instead, they said, "yep, we can play now!"
But not before adding this statement:
"The truth is, you don't understand how important this is. You have to have a relationship with Jesus to go to Heaven."
The whole time I was listening to this conversation (okay, not eavesdropping! I was probably 6 feet away and they were looking at me as if to acknowledge my presence in the conversation, so I was, indeed, allowed to hear everything!), my heart was filled with so many emotions and my thoughts were running wild.
Poor girls, their friend doesn't really want to hear about Jesus. :(
Good job with being persistent and trying to help her want to read the Bible!
And good job remembering what you've learned about Moses!
Why would a girl speak so disrespectfully about what her friend has to say to her?! (That was me kind of being a momma duck and sensing some injustice, but the princesses handled everything very well and were respectful in return regardless of what S. had to say, so I suppose it worked out alright. Gotta let little ones choose their own battles sometimes!)
But probably the most heartwarming thing for me was seeing the true, genuine, love M. and A. have for their friend and the passion they have for making sure the people they love get to be in the Kingdom of Heaven with them.
This moment is one of the reasons why kids give me hope. :)
I was watching these two "princessesses" this past Friday when one of their neighborhood friends (I'll call her "S.") stopped by for a short visit. All three girls were playing in a little playhouse at the top of their swing set and I was on puppy duty (puppies are horribly messy when it's a post-melted-snow type of day and no one wants little girls with muddy paw prints all over their clothes!) but what I heard from a short distance away absolutely made my day--no, my week.
M. and A. asked their friend, S., if she had been reading the Bible they gave her and whether or not she had been going to church. S. said, "well...I haven't really read it yet...I get really busy with homework and stuff..." and re:church she said that "church is REALLY boring and the last two times I went I didn't learn anything!"
Thinking that this would discourage the princesses I know and love, I thought the girls might just shrug it off and let it go or perhaps change their tone to a disappointed one and continue playing.
But, no.
They countered their adorable little friend and said, "But church is fun, and the Bible has LOTS of really good stories in it!"
Then M. proceeded to tell the story of Moses in great detail (it may have helped that we talked about part of his story--but still, only a small part of it--earlier that day during homeschooling) from birth to rescuing his people from Egypt. My heart melted!
A little more than halfway through M.'s story, S. said, "I'm getting SO BORED. Are you done with the story yet??"
And without missing a beat, M. said, "almost, then we can play!" and continued where she left off in the story.
And, of course, A. was adding wonderful details to the story, too!
At the end of the story, again, S. very explicitly expressed her boredom (even though, personally, I thought the girls did an excellent job of telling the story with excitement and enthusiasm to make it interesting for S., but the princesses didn't get discouraged. Instead, they said, "yep, we can play now!"
But not before adding this statement:
"The truth is, you don't understand how important this is. You have to have a relationship with Jesus to go to Heaven."
The whole time I was listening to this conversation (okay, not eavesdropping! I was probably 6 feet away and they were looking at me as if to acknowledge my presence in the conversation, so I was, indeed, allowed to hear everything!), my heart was filled with so many emotions and my thoughts were running wild.
Poor girls, their friend doesn't really want to hear about Jesus. :(
Good job with being persistent and trying to help her want to read the Bible!
And good job remembering what you've learned about Moses!
Why would a girl speak so disrespectfully about what her friend has to say to her?! (That was me kind of being a momma duck and sensing some injustice, but the princesses handled everything very well and were respectful in return regardless of what S. had to say, so I suppose it worked out alright. Gotta let little ones choose their own battles sometimes!)
But probably the most heartwarming thing for me was seeing the true, genuine, love M. and A. have for their friend and the passion they have for making sure the people they love get to be in the Kingdom of Heaven with them.
This moment is one of the reasons why kids give me hope. :)
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