Something Smells like Shit and It Isn’t Me
Back in my office there is this putrid smell. Mystery smell. I swear, Erin must have pooped in the corner or something. Nevermind that. We have more important things to discuss.
Mad Cow Disease isn’t that big of a deal. Let me explain to you why:
One in a million people develop Creutzfield-Jakob Disease (CJD) every year. This translates to one in about 350 Americans. 85% of cases are developed sporadically, with no ties to beef consumption. The next 15% of cases are familial, or inherited. Few cases are transmitted via medical procedures, and even fewer cases are transmitted from beef tainted with BSE (Mad Cow Disease).
There isn’t a treatment for it. 90% of people who get CJD die within one year (this was a suprise to me, I thought it took longer). Early symptoms are psychiatric appearing, with depression, inability to sleep, paranoia, and violent tendencies. Each human case of CJD varies, some people have few symptoms, some have many.
Sporadic cases of CJD usually set in at about 60 years of age. If it is inherited, the onset is earlier, but the patient lives longer. Finally, when you get it from beef, onset is younger, incubation is long (sometimes years) and psychiatric symptoms will always present first. Once symptoms onset, most die within weeks. Sweet.
So don’t worry about it. Don’t get worked up. Eat good beef, and you’ll be fine. Wimps.
One more thing (if you’ve read through my boring rant thus far). I found my daughter’s step-mother’s web page. Her hero is none other than Jenna Jameson. If she could meet anyone, it would be Marilyn Monroe, for “sex tips.” I shit you not. I am horrified that this woman interacts with my child. I mean, I knew the pot leaf tattoo on her back didn’t bode well, but Jesus. I guess I shouldn’t judge her too much. Or maybe I should.
Off to watch my NCAA picks stomp up… I hope.
PS: I also don’t have cancer. That’s good news.
