Category Archives: Human Health

Silence of the Swallowtail

“It’s easier to run down the mountain than to walk it!” my partner shouted to me as we were descending Humpback Rock. Except, he wasn’t the one carrying the backpack with our waters and half-eaten charcuterie box from the day before (precariously wrapped in a cup and some napkins).

Continue reading Silence of the Swallowtail

After Virtue, After Invasion

“Imagine that the natural sciences were to suffer the effects of a catastrophe. A series of environmental disasters are blamed by the general public on the scientists. Widespread riots occur, laboratories are burnt down, physicists are lynched, books and instruments are destroyed. Finally a Know-Nothing political movement takes power and successfully abolishes science teaching in schools and universities, imprisoning and executing the remaining scientists.”

Continue reading After Virtue, After Invasion

Cheers, to all of the Women Out There (and Piss on the Men Who Wish to Hold us Down)

My right to vote is a spritely gal of 105. August 26, 1920 was sincerely a day to be celebrated, yet often gets overlooked.

In honor of the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, I’d like to note a few things about the women of our past and honor who they were and what they accomplished.

Continue reading Cheers, to all of the Women Out There (and Piss on the Men Who Wish to Hold us Down)

Influenza and Zoonosis

In my last post I used a photo of an old (positive) test result for COVID (this is also an old photo of my sweet baby, hence the grainy appearance) and I noticed it included Influenza A and B as possible results as well, which got me thinking about the flu and wondering how much people know what the flu even is. The question also ties into vaccines and how experts decide on which “strain” to use – and do people even know what they mean by strain?!

Ok, that’s a LOT to cover, so I’ll try to keep it all simple. First, let’s define what zoonosis is – this is a hot topic for One Health.

Continue reading Influenza and Zoonosis

F*ck. Does This Mean I’m Getting COVID This Year?

Now that our Department of Health and Human Services (D-HHS) is being run by someone with no scientific background or training and touts pseudoscience and fringe ideas, we are facing a potential health crisis.

Continue reading F*ck. Does This Mean I’m Getting COVID This Year?

My Favourite Podcasts

This is a bit of a deviation from One Health and my usual posts, but I just wanted to confess something. I’m a podcast junkie.

I love learning about new stuff and topical formats have always been my favourite. Also, lately, I can’t take another second of news and current events. It’s nauseating and my brain needs a detox. I actually feel that political current events might be rotting my brain.

So, whenever I need a break, these are my go-to podcasts!

Continue reading My Favourite Podcasts

“Artivism”

UPDATED: I was floundering in one of my unfocussed days, typing a million disparate thoughts, unable to make them meld properly. This is, perhaps, partly to do with the inherent abstract nature of art and the subjectivity surrounding it. I want to say something, but I am unable to find the right words in the right order. I’ve not rewritten, but I’ve tweeked a few lines to make them more cohesive.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how we use art in activism lately. We create signs for protests, write songs and stories, make documentaries…. City streets are littered with graffiti – everything from murals depicting a civil rights event to simple written messages.

Continue reading “Artivism”

What is Public Broadcasting?

I thought I knew – but it seems I’ve opened up a can of worms that is taking way more effort to digest and understand. I thought “hey, let’s help spread the word about the importance of public broadcasting!” Now I need to figure out how we communicate across the nation. Either way, let’s also see if we can figure out what this administration just cut funding for, shall we?

Continue reading What is Public Broadcasting?