This is why I’ll never stop doing this blog
TTWS reader Kent sent in this comment in response to my sadness about leaving my job:
It must be like leaving your family – working there has been such a part of your life for so long. I feel sad for your leaving, too, and it doesn’t even effect me directly. I guess you have good reasons for taking the new job, though – I wish you luck.
May the road rise to meet you. – May the wind be always at your back. – May the sun shine warm upon your face.
[Painting by Vincent Amicosante]
liz | 5:17 PM | Uncategorized
Joke of the day: Zach Galifianakis
“My brother has ADD, which is weird because he drives a Ford Focus.”
Rimshot!
liz | 4:20 PM | Uncategorized
Breakthrough for schizophrenia?
Now this is some serious Funday shit:
New Dopamine Brain Target Discovered
liz | 1:40 PM | Uncategorized
Friday Is Funday: But I weep!
This is my last day at my office. I’ve been here for 8 years, basically, and I’m feeling pretty sad about leaving. The people at this place have been so great to work with … well, I won’t get all maudlin on the blog. I’m trying to get rid of stuff so my co-worker Kate can move into my office. She’s a neat person, so I’m trying to throw out the weird crap I bought at the dollar store but never used, including a pair of teeny shoes for a little girl to wear with a princess outfit. Don’t ask.
So I know it’s a Funday, but I’m feeling a bit woozy. Just wanted to share.
liz | 1:28 PM | Uncategorized
Breathing lessons
Oh my God. It’s so frigid cold today that as soon as I left my house, my lungs began to contract and spasm. Naturally, I didn’t have my inhaler with me, and I knew if I walked back home, I wouldn’t make it without having a major asthma attack. So I stood waiting for the bus with my hand against my mouth, trying to breathe through my nose, which did help a bit. When I came out of the train station, I walked very slowly up the stairs, trying to keep everything from falling apart, breathing-wise.
Funny thing is, when I have an asthmatic moment like that, I always get terrified. Not being able to breathe is such a paralyzing experience. Every single time I think, “I’m going to die.” And every single time I think, “I don’t want to die like this. I have to organize my papers first.” Seriously.
[Confidential to Jess S.: Stay home today, girl. It's horrible out there.]
liz | 11:21 AM | Uncategorized
R.I.P. Disco D
PW Senior A&E editor Kate Kilpatrick just sent me a story from AllHipHop.com, a site she visits regularly (because she’s cool) and I visit rarely (because I’m not). The story is about turntable prodigy/hip-hop producer Disco D, aka David Shayman, who killed himself a couple days ago at the age of 27.
He was recently diagnosed as bipolar disorder, the article says. His list of accomplishments in his short life was so incredible. So much success at such a young age … he was just amazing.
First he was a successful DJ on the Detroit/Ann Arbor club scene. He produced 50 Cent’s “The Ski Mask Way,” Nina Sky’s “Turnin’ Me On” and Kevin Federline’s single “Papazao.” And says, AllHipHop, he also “wrote music for commercials (Best Buy, Sprite) and awards shows (VH1’s Hip Hop Honors, Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards). He had recently launched a Brazilian urban label called Gringo Louco which counted rap group Braza as artists on the label.”
He was also finalizing negotiations for a track on Chamillionaire’s upcoming new CD. Details featured an article about him in 1998, predicting great things. He fulfilled that promise, and more.
DJ Strong is quoted in the AllHipHop article: “I can’t believe this has happened to such a high-energy forward moving person. He had so much to look to in the future.”
Disco D’s death is another reminder of the unknowability of other people’s pain. He must have been hiding so much, and struggling so hard. David, I hope wherever you are, you feel some relief. You will be dearly missed, but you left your mark. You will always be remembered.
Upcoming Producer Disco D Commits Suicide, Friends React
Services for David Shayman tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Temple Beth Emeth, 2309 Packard Road in Ann Arbor, Mich.
liz | 4:14 PM | Uncategorized
My hometown: Not like anywhere else
Until he starts talking about the Mummers, I think journalist Steve Lopez is right on. (Introduced by the quintessential Philly cool cat, the Geator.)
liz | 1:41 PM | Uncategorized
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
People are started to get very excited about magnetic stimulation, and that’s understandable. Any new treatment brings with it heaping dollops of hope and an almost frenzied desire to try the new thing. Illness makes you desperate; the notion that something as seemingly benign as a magnet on your head could cure you is seductive in the extreme.
You can hear the electricity being rat-a-tat tat-ed into a woman’s brain on this NPR segment. Given my negative experience with ECT, there’s absolutely no way I’d go near this treatment right now. But it’s interesting to hear stories like this. Let’s just be prudent and deliberate in our consideration.
Magnetic Pulse Treatment Targets Depression
liz | 12:58 PM | Uncategorized
Car talk 2
I have a policeman friend who was blunt with me when I asked if we were getting the car back: “It’s gone. That thing is gone.”
So we bought a new car, though it’s not a done deal quite yet. This is what it looks like. If anyone out there needs help moving, you now know who to call. Hmm. Maybe I shouldn’t say that. Oh, well. It’s all a part of making sure my life has meaning. I can move your boxes of crap!
liz | 11:27 AM | Uncategorized
Cute psychology students: High school edition
They’re doing some kind of experiment in this psychology class. Now that’s what I call a dizzy blonde. Ba-dum-bum.
liz | 5:58 PM | Uncategorized
