Needless to say, we have been living in unprecedented times for a while now. If I were to recommend a few titles for this moment, I would suggest Who Is Goverment: The Untold Story of Public Service, out on March 18th.
Next up, given the government’s destruction of government funding for scientific research, I recommend this title about tuberculosis, also out this week:
As a funny side note, as a student in my 20s, everytime I got a student visa to study in France, I had to get a lung x-ray about two months after arriving to prove I was not infected with tuberculosis and able to stay in the country with my “carte de séjour.” I remember at the time thinking it was an archaic practice, but maybe the French were onto something? After the medical visit, they gave you the absurdly large floppy x-ray to take home in a large brown envelope.
Finally, I recommend this book about vaccinations from physician Adam Ratner, Booster Shots :The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children’s Health. This title was released last month.
On the topic of infectious diseases, “the dream of the 1840s in alive in Portland,” could be the new opening to the series Portlandia if it still aired. Dysentery (yes Oregon Trail on a Mac IIc folks, I am looking at you) is back and cases are rising in Oregon.
Don’t believe me? Read the headlines:
On a positive note, Jack Schlossberg, internet and real life Usha Vance stan (joking), has finally shown us the result of all of those ballet practices: a performance of Pirates of the Caribbean for ballet amateurs! Jack for President 2029!
On a final note, please bear with me as I adjust to fixing the settings on this website. I need to fix some links and other things. I haven’t used Webpress very much personally, so I am learning about its’ features.
Renée Walsh 